Five Poisonous Range Weeds- When and Why They Are Dangerous

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Five Poisonous Range Weeds- When and Why They Are Dangerous fractions, according to species Five Poisonous Range Weeds- . and season. When possible, the same species was sampled at dif- When and Why They Are Dangerous ferent elevations on the same date. The individual plant parts M. COBURN WILLIAMS AND EUGENE H. CRONIN were dried for 24 hr at 60 C, Plant Physiologists, Crops Research Division, Agricul- ground to a 40-mesh powder, and tural Research Service, U.S.D.A., in cooperation with the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, Logan. stored in air-tight polyethylene containers. Highlight poisons has been reported by Larkspurs and falsehellebore Three larkspurs, halogefon, and Dye (1956)) Williams (1960)) were analyzed for total alkaloids western falsehellebore were exam- Cook and Stoddart (1953)) and as previously described for tall ined for seasonal variation of their contained poisons. With the excep- Morton et al. (1959)) on haloge- larkspur (Williams and Cronin, tion of low larkspur, greatest con- ton; Beath (1919, 1925)) and 1963). Soluble and total oxalates centrations of fhe poisons were Williams and Cronin (1963)) on in halogeton were determined found in the leaves. Alkaloid concen- tration in tall larkspurs decreased larkspurs; and Keeler and Binns by the method of Dye (1956). with plant maturity. Cattle losses (1964)) on falsehellebore. Our The above plants have, for a mav be reduced if fall larkspurs are continuing research was con- number of seasons, been analyzed avoided during early vegetative qrowfh. The alkaloid content of tall ducted with five poisonous spe- for changes in the concentration larkspurs was increased by freaf- cies common in the Intermoun- of their contained poison follow- menf with 2,4,5-T and silvex. Only ing applications of experimental 2,4,5-T increased alkaloid content of tain West: duncecap larkspur, western falsehellebore. (Delphinium occidentale S. herbicides. Samples were taken Wats.; tall larkspur, D. barbeyi 1,2, and 3 weeks after treatment, Poisonous plants have always (Huth) Huth; low larkspur, D. and processed and analyzed as constituted an indigenous com- nekonii Greene; halogeton, Halo- described. ponent of the flora of the West- geton glomeratus (M. Bieb.) C. A. Results and Discussion ern range. Halogeton (Halogeton Mey.; and western falsehellebore glomeratus (M. Bieb.) C. A. Veratrum californicum Durand. Tall and Duncecap Larkspur.- Mey.) is the only one of our most With the exception of duncecap More cattle are killed in the troublesome poisonous weeds larkspur, the common names West by tall larkspurs than any which has been introduced. used are those approved by the other poisonous weed. Authen- The native larkspurs (Delphin- Terminology Committee of the ticated cattle losses attributed to ium spp.) , western falsehellebore Weed Society of America (Dar- tall larkspur on one grazing (Veratrum californicum Dur- row et al., 1962). Duncecap lark- allotment in Utah have ranged and), and halogeton have become spur is designated as the com- from 2 to 12% during the last 10 management problems by (1) mon name for DeZphinium occi- years. introducing domestic animals dentale in Standardized Plant Plants begin growth in late where these weeds are prevalent; Names (Kelsey and Dayton, spring as soon as snow has mel- and (2) range misuse, particular- 1942). Unfortunately, duncecap ted. As many as 20 to 30 shoots ly overgrazing, which permits larkspur is usually called tall may arise from a single crown. weeds to increase in density and larkspur in the West and is there- In the vegetative stage, tall lark- invade new areas at the expense fore frequently confused with spurs resemble the poisonous of desirable vegetation. Delphinium barbeyi. monkshood, Aconitum colum- Apart from recognizing these bianum Nutt. Tall larkspurs, species in the field, few under- Materials and Methods however, have hollow stems and stand the complex physiological Plants were collected by loca- prefer well-drained soils, while characteristics peculiar to each, tions, as follows: low larkspur, monkshood has a solid, pithy such as the poison or poisons it duncecap larkspur, and western stem and occurs on moist sites. contains; why only certain classes falsehellebore, Wasatch Moun- Flowers of the two genera are of livestock are poisoned; the tains east of Logan, Utah; tall easily distinguished because the distribution of the poison within larkspur, Wasatch Plateau east calyx on monkshood lacks the the plant; how the poison content of Manti, Utah; halogeton, west spur characteristic of larkspurs. varies during the plant’s life of Snowville, Utah. Plants were Tall larkspurs produce flowers cycle, and the effect of climate sampled weekly in the field from from July to September. The and herbicides on the concentra- soon after emergence until ter- flowering plants average 3 to 4 tion of the poison. mination of their active growth. ft in height but may reach 6 ft or Information on the character- Plants were divided into leaf, more. Tall larkspurs grow at an istics and properties of plant stem, flower, and leaf-seed-sepal elevation of 6,000 to 11,000 ft, 274 POISONOUS RANGE WEEDS 275 Table 1. Percent fofal alkaloids in planf tissue of duncecap larkspur, wesiern falsehellebore. and low larkspur, 1965. Duncecap larkspur Western falsehellebore Low larkspur Date of 7000 ft 8000 ft 6000 ft 8000 ft 8000 ft Collection Apex Leaves Stems Apex Leaves Stems Leaves Stems Leaves Stems Leaves Stems Flowers May 28 - - - - - - 0.3 0.5 June 3 - - - - - - 0.3 0.2 June 10 4.1 3.7 2.6 - - - 0.2 0.2 June 17 2.5 2.4 1.5 - - - 0.2 0.1 - - - - - June 23 3.0 2.3 1.1 5.4 3.5 3.5 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.1 - June 29 2.6 2.1 1.0 4.6 4.5 3.4 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 - July 8 3.3 2.1 0.7 3.1 2.7 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.5 July 15 3.3 1.8 0.6 3.3 3.2 1.1 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.6 July 21 2.8 1.6 0.7 3.5 2.8 1.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.4 July 28 2.3 1.3 0.8 3.3 2.2 1.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 - 0.3** - August 5 2.0 0.9 0.8 2.6 1.6 1.1 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 - 0.2** - August 12 2.1 1.2 0.6 2.0 1.6 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 - 0.2** - August 19 0.9 0.6 0.4 2.3 1.4 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 - August 26 0.8 0.6 0.4 2.3 1.2 0.7 0.2” 0.2* 0.2 0.1 - September 2 0.8 0.6 0.3 2.8 1.0 0.5 - - 0.2* 0.2” - September 9 0.6 0.5 0.3 1.9 0.8 0.7 September 20 - - - 1.0” 0.3” 0.4” * Plants dead ** Whole plant samples only either on open meadows or inter- Tall larkspurs are most poison- In years when cattle losses spersed among aspen and fir. ous during early growth, espe- from tall larkspurs are unusually Tall larkspur may be distin- cially during the first few weeks heavy, ranchers frequently as- guished from duncecap larkspur following emergence (Table 1). sume that the plants are more by the tawny pubsecence of its Alkaloid content decreases rapid- toxic than usual. This assump- inflorescence and by its tendency ly until flowering, during which tion is true if losses occur follow- to produce bi-colored (light blue alkaloid levels drop more slowly. ing a winter of above normal and dark blue) petals. Tall lark- After the plants have reached snowfall or if the spring is un- spur occurs in Arizona, New full flower, alkaloids rapidly de- usually cold. The toxicity of lark- Mexico, Colorado, and Southern cline. At 7,000 ft elevation, the spur is dependent upon two con- Wyoming and Utah (south of apex consisted of leaves June 10 ditions: date of emergence, large- Provo). Duncecap larkspur grows to July 1; buds July 1 to 15; ly determined by winter snow- generally north of tall larkspur flowers July 15 to 30; and seed fall, and temperature following in Northern Utah, Idaho, Nevada, pods and seeds thereafter. Equiv- emergence. Toxicity corresponds Northern Wyoming, Montana, alent growth stages in plants col- very closely to stage of growth. Oregon, and Washington. lected at 8,000 ft occurred 2 to 3 The later the start of growth, the The toxic substances in lark- weeks later. more toxic plants will be-at any spurs are alkaloids. These com- The majority of the alkaloids particular date during the grow- pounds are complex organic are found in the green leaf. ing season. Cold weather follow- molecules which contain, in ad- Young leaves, particularly the ing emergence can further retard dition to carbon, hydrogen and apical bud, are rich in alkaloids. development. oxygen, a small amount of nitro- Stems are high in alkaloids only Duncecap larkspur (Table 1) gen. Alkaloids are widely dis- when very young and succulent; was collected at 7,000 and 8,000 tributed throughout the plant and as they become more woody, ft elevations. Plants at 7,000 ft kingdom. Many that occur in the concentration of the poison were 18 to 20 inches high before small amounts in food are harm- drops very rapidly. Before the snow had melted at 8,000 ft.
Recommended publications
  • "National List of Vascular Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands: 1996 National Summary."
    Intro 1996 National List of Vascular Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands The Fish and Wildlife Service has prepared a National List of Vascular Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands: 1996 National Summary (1996 National List). The 1996 National List is a draft revision of the National List of Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands: 1988 National Summary (Reed 1988) (1988 National List). The 1996 National List is provided to encourage additional public review and comments on the draft regional wetland indicator assignments. The 1996 National List reflects a significant amount of new information that has become available since 1988 on the wetland affinity of vascular plants. This new information has resulted from the extensive use of the 1988 National List in the field by individuals involved in wetland and other resource inventories, wetland identification and delineation, and wetland research. Interim Regional Interagency Review Panel (Regional Panel) changes in indicator status as well as additions and deletions to the 1988 National List were documented in Regional supplements. The National List was originally developed as an appendix to the Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States (Cowardin et al.1979) to aid in the consistent application of this classification system for wetlands in the field.. The 1996 National List also was developed to aid in determining the presence of hydrophytic vegetation in the Clean Water Act Section 404 wetland regulatory program and in the implementation of the swampbuster provisions of the Food Security Act. While not required by law or regulation, the Fish and Wildlife Service is making the 1996 National List available for review and comment.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix a List of Preparers and Reviewers
    Glossary adfluvial —Referring to fish that live in lakes and no significant impact, aids an agency’s compliance migrate to rivers and streams. with the National Environmental Policy Act when Beyond the Boundaries —National Wildlife Refuge no environmental impact statement is necessary, Association program to expand conservation work and facilitates preparation of a statement when to areas outside national wildlife refuge borders. one is necessary. BRWCA —Bear River Watershed Conservation Area. fluvial —Referring to fish that live in rivers and candidate species —A species of plant or animal for streams. which the USFWS has sufficient information on GCN —(A species of) greatest conservation need. their biological status and threats to propose them HAPET —Habitat and Population Evaluation Team. as endangered or threatened under the Endan- Important Bird Areas Program —A global effort to gered Species Act, but for which development of find and conserve areas that are vital to birds a proposed listing regulation is precluded by other and other biodiversity sponsored by the National higher priority listing activities. Audubon Society. CFR —Code of Federal Regulations. Intermountain West Joint Venture —Diverse partner- CO2 —Carbon dioxide. ship of 18 entities including Federal agencies, conservation easement —A legally enforceable State agencies, nonprofit conservation organiza- encumbrance or transfer of property rights to a tions, and for-profit organizations representing government agency or land trust for the purposes agriculture and industry. IWJV was founded in of conservation. Rights transferred could include 1994 to facilitate bird conservation across the vast the discretion to subdivide or develop land, change 495 million acres of the Intermountain West.
    [Show full text]
  • Maintaining and Improving Habitat for Hummingbirds in Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota
    United States Department of Agriculture Maintaining and Improving Habitat for Hummingbirds in Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota A Land Manager’s Guide Forest Service National Headquarters Introduction Food Hummingbirds play an important role in the food web, Hummingbirds feed by day on nectar pollinating a variety of owering plants, some of which from owers, including annuals, perenni- are speci cally adapted to pollination by hummingbirds. als, trees, shrubs, and vines. Native nectar Some hummingbirds are at risk, like other pollinators, plants are listed in the table near the end due to habitat loss, changes in the distribution and of this guide. ey feed while hovering or, abundance of nectar plants (which are a ected by climate if possible, while perched. ey also eat change), the spread of invasive plants, and pesticide use. Rufous Hummingbird nest insects, such as fruit- ies and gnats, and is guide is intended to help you provide and improve Courtesy of Martin Hutten will consume tree sap, when it is available. habitat for hummingbirds, as well as other pollinators, ey obtain tree sap from sap wells drilled in Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota. While hummingbirds, like all birds, have the in trees by sapsuckers and other hole-drill- Western columbine—Aquilegia formosa Courtesy of Gary A. Monroe basic habitat needs of food, water, shelter, and space, this guide is focused on providing ing birds. USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database food—the plants that provide nectar for hummingbirds. Because climate, geology, and vegetation vary widely in di erent areas, speci c recommendations are presented for each ecoregion in Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota.
    [Show full text]
  • Rare Plant Survey of San Juan Public Lands, Colorado
    Rare Plant Survey of San Juan Public Lands, Colorado 2005 Prepared by Colorado Natural Heritage Program 254 General Services Building Colorado State University Fort Collins CO 80523 Rare Plant Survey of San Juan Public Lands, Colorado 2005 Prepared by Peggy Lyon and Julia Hanson Colorado Natural Heritage Program 254 General Services Building Colorado State University Fort Collins CO 80523 December 2005 Cover: Imperiled (G1 and G2) plants of the San Juan Public Lands, top left to bottom right: Lesquerella pruinosa, Draba graminea, Cryptantha gypsophila, Machaeranthera coloradoensis, Astragalus naturitensis, Physaria pulvinata, Ipomopsis polyantha, Townsendia glabella, Townsendia rothrockii. Executive Summary This survey was a continuation of several years of rare plant survey on San Juan Public Lands. Funding for the project was provided by San Juan National Forest and the San Juan Resource Area of the Bureau of Land Management. Previous rare plant surveys on San Juan Public Lands by CNHP were conducted in conjunction with county wide surveys of La Plata, Archuleta, San Juan and San Miguel counties, with partial funding from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO); and in 2004, public lands only in Dolores and Montezuma counties, funded entirely by the San Juan Public Lands. Funding for 2005 was again provided by San Juan Public Lands. The primary emphases for field work in 2005 were: 1. revisit and update information on rare plant occurrences of agency sensitive species in the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) database that were last observed prior to 2000, in order to have the most current information available for informing the revision of the Resource Management Plan for the San Juan Public Lands (BLM and San Juan National Forest); 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Gymnaconitum, a New Genus of Ranunculaceae Endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
    TAXON 62 (4) • August 2013: 713–722 Wang & al. • Gymnaconitum, a new genus of Ranunculaceae Gymnaconitum, a new genus of Ranunculaceae endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Wei Wang,1 Yang Liu,2 Sheng-Xiang Yu,1 Tian-Gang Gao1 & Zhi-Duan Chen1 1 State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, P.R. China 2 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3043, U.S.A. Author for correspondence: Wei Wang, [email protected] Abstract The monophyly of traditional Aconitum remains unresolved, owing to the controversial systematic position and taxonomic treatment of the monotypic, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau endemic A. subg. Gymnaconitum. In this study, we analyzed two datasets using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods: (1) two markers (ITS, trnL-F) of 285 Delphinieae species, and (2) six markers (ITS, trnL-F, trnH-psbA, trnK-matK, trnS-trnG, rbcL) of 32 Delphinieae species. All our analyses show that traditional Aconitum is not monophyletic and that subgenus Gymnaconitum and a broadly defined Delphinium form a clade. The SOWH tests also reject the inclusion of subgenus Gymnaconitum in traditional Aconitum. Subgenus Gymnaconitum markedly differs from other species of Aconitum and other genera of tribe Delphinieae in many non-molecular characters. By integrating lines of evidence from molecular phylogeny, divergence times, morphology, and karyology, we raise the mono- typic A. subg. Gymnaconitum to generic status. Keywords Aconitum; Delphinieae; Gymnaconitum; monophyly; phylogeny; Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau; Ranunculaceae; SOWH test Supplementary Material The Electronic Supplement (Figs. S1–S8; Appendices S1, S2) and the alignment files are available in the Supplementary Data section of the online version of this article (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iapt/tax).
    [Show full text]
  • List of Plants for Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
    Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Plant Checklist DRAFT as of 29 November 2005 FERNS AND FERN ALLIES Equisetaceae (Horsetail Family) Vascular Plant Equisetales Equisetaceae Equisetum arvense Present in Park Rare Native Field horsetail Vascular Plant Equisetales Equisetaceae Equisetum laevigatum Present in Park Unknown Native Scouring-rush Polypodiaceae (Fern Family) Vascular Plant Polypodiales Dryopteridaceae Cystopteris fragilis Present in Park Uncommon Native Brittle bladderfern Vascular Plant Polypodiales Dryopteridaceae Woodsia oregana Present in Park Uncommon Native Oregon woodsia Pteridaceae (Maidenhair Fern Family) Vascular Plant Polypodiales Pteridaceae Argyrochosma fendleri Present in Park Unknown Native Zigzag fern Vascular Plant Polypodiales Pteridaceae Cheilanthes feei Present in Park Uncommon Native Slender lip fern Vascular Plant Polypodiales Pteridaceae Cryptogramma acrostichoides Present in Park Unknown Native American rockbrake Selaginellaceae (Spikemoss Family) Vascular Plant Selaginellales Selaginellaceae Selaginella densa Present in Park Rare Native Lesser spikemoss Vascular Plant Selaginellales Selaginellaceae Selaginella weatherbiana Present in Park Unknown Native Weatherby's clubmoss CONIFERS Cupressaceae (Cypress family) Vascular Plant Pinales Cupressaceae Juniperus scopulorum Present in Park Unknown Native Rocky Mountain juniper Pinaceae (Pine Family) Vascular Plant Pinales Pinaceae Abies concolor var. concolor Present in Park Rare Native White fir Vascular Plant Pinales Pinaceae Abies lasiocarpa Present
    [Show full text]
  • Annotated Checklist of Vascular Flora, Cedar Breaks National
    National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Program Center Annotated Checklist of Vascular Flora Cedar Breaks National Monument Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR—2009/173 ON THE COVER Peterson’s campion (Silene petersonii), Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah. Photograph by Walter Fertig. Annotated Checklist of Vascular Flora Cedar Breaks National Monument Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR—2009/173 Author Walter Fertig Moenave Botanical Consulting 1117 W. Grand Canyon Dr. Kanab, UT 84741 Editing and Design Alice Wondrak Biel Northern Colorado Plateau Network P.O. Box 848 Moab, UT 84532 February 2009 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Program Center Fort Collins, Colorado The Natural Resource Publication series addresses natural resource topics that are of interest and applicability to a broad readership in the National Park Service and to others in the management of natural resources, including the scientifi c community, the public, and the NPS conservation and environmental constituencies. Manuscripts are peer-reviewed to ensure that the information is scientifi cally credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and is designed and published in a professional manner. The Natural Resource Technical Report series is used to disseminate the peer-reviewed results of scientifi c studies in the physical, biological, and social sciences for both the advancement of science and the achievement of the National Park Service’s mission. The reports provide contributors with a forum for displaying comprehensive data that are often deleted from journals because of page limitations. Current examples of such reports include the results of research that addresses natural resource management issues; natural resource inventory and monitoring activities; resource assessment reports; scientifi c literature reviews; and peer- reviewed proceedings of technical workshops, conferences, or symposia.
    [Show full text]
  • Toxic Alkaloid Levels in Tall Larkspur (Delphinium Barbeyi) in Western Colorado
    J. Range Manage. 47~355-350 September 1994 Toxic alkaloid levels in tall larkspur (Delphinium barbeyi) in western Colorado JAMES A. PFISTER, GARY D. MANNERS, DALE R. GARDNER, AND MICHAEL H. RALPHS Pfister and Ralphs are range scientists, and Gardner is research chemist, USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Lab., 1150 E. 1400 N., Logan, lJT84321; Manners is research chemist, USDA-ARS Western Regional Research Lab., Albany, CA 94710. Abstract prudent grazing management of tall larkspur-infested rangelands re- quires knowledge of toxin concentrations over time. There is no in- Consumption of tall Larkspur (DeZphinium burbeyi L. Huth.) can formation available on toxic alkaloid concentrations in tall larkspur in be fatal to cattle grazing mountain rangeland during summer. Tall the western Colorado area; hence, the purpose of our study was to larkspur contains many alkaloids, but virtually all the toxicity is characterize concentrations of MSAL alkaloids in tall larkspur over caused by methyl succidimido anthranoyl lycoctonine-type several growing seasons. (MSAL.) diterpenoid alkaloids. We measured the concentration of MSAL alkaloids (% of dry matter) in tall larkspur in various phe- Methods nological stages during 1990, 1991, and 1992 near Yampa, Colorado. The site represented tall larkspur-infested rangelands The study was conducted during the summers of 1990, 1991, and on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. Toxic alkaloid con- 1992 on the U.S. Forest Service North Hunt Allotment near Yampa, centrations were greatest (0.4 to 0.6%) early in the growing sea- CO. The study site was a moist, aspen/tall forb type (Mitchell 1993). son (bud stage). Toxic alkaloid concentrations were generally sta- representative of mountain rangelands dominated by tall larkspur in tic during the flower and pod stages, or Increased during the pod western Colorado (Mitchell 1993).
    [Show full text]
  • Hummingbirds at Artificial Flowers Made to Resemble Ornithophiles Versus Melittophiles
    Journal of Pollination Ecology, 8(10), 2012, pp 67-78 HUMMINGBIRDS AT ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS MADE TO RESEMBLE ORNITHOPHILES VERSUS MELITTOPHILES Wyndee A. Guzman, Paul Wilson * Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330-8303 Abstract —Certain floral characteristics are associated with specific pollinators. Hummingbird-pollinated flowers are usually red, lack a landing platform, lack nectar guides, and contain a high amount of dilute sucrose-rich nectar. Here we test hypotheses concerning the reasons for these characters to the extent that they involve hummingbird responses. An array was set up of 16 artificial plants, each with five artificial flowers. (1) Flowers made to differ only in colour elicited a slight preference for red. (2) When colour was associated with nectar offerings, and birds generally learned to visit flowers that provided much more nectar but did not associatively learn differences as little as 2 µL. (3) Birds were offered 8 µL of 12% sucrose versus 2 µL of 48% hexose, and they did not prefer the dilute nectar; they showed no evidence of discerning sucrose from hexose; however, they preferred 48% over 12% sucrose when both were offered in the same quantity. (4) Birds preferred flowers that lacked landing platforms over those with landing platforms. (5) Birds were offered flowers with nectar guides, associated with differing nectar volumes, and they did not associate the higher nectar reward with either flower type. In summary, the feedback from hummingbirds reflects some of the differences between bird- and bee-adapted flowers, but nectar seemed less predictive than expected. Factors other than the behavioural proclivities of hummingbirds, such as adaptation to discourage bees, are discussed as additional causes for the differences between the syndromes.
    [Show full text]
  • Larkspur Poisoning in Livestock: Myths and Misconceptions
    10 RANGELANDS 19(3), June 1997 Larkspur Poisoning in Livestock: Myths and Misconceptions Anthony P. Knight and James A. Pfister arkspurs (Delphinium spp.) are pertain to tall larkspurs as most re- doubtful if cattle could consume major causes of cattle deaths on search has been directed at these enough root material for toxicity to Lmountain ranges during the sum- species. When appropriate, we also occur. Marsh et al. (1916) fed 2.4 lb. of mer grazing seasonin the western U.S. have made comments about low lark- low larkspur roots alone to a cow with- For descriptive convenience, larkspurs spurs. out effect; mixtures of roots and plant are grouped into tall and low species tops were also fed to cattle (up to based upon their growthcharactenstics. Myth #1: ConsumptIon of larkspur about 20 lb./day) without effect. In col- Tall larkspurs are generallyfound grow- roots causes many cattle deaths. lecting samples to determine the toxic- ing at high altitude and reaching 4 to 6 Tall larkspurs are sometimes eaten ity of tall and low larkspurs, livestock feet in height. Tall larkspurs are most avidly by cattle during or just after sum- managers need to sample only above- commonly represented by Delphinium mer storms, and cattle deaths have ground portions of the plant. barbeyi, D. glaucescens, D. glaucum, been attributed to consumption of tall and D. occidentale. Low larkspurs (D. larkspur roots when the soil is wet. Tall Myth #2: Cattle eat tall larkspur nuttallianum, D. virescens, 0. ander- larkspurs have a very fibrous root because they crave salt or other soni,) seldom grow above 2 feet in crown that is impossibleto completely minerals.
    [Show full text]
  • Vegetables to Winter Sow
    Vegetables to Winter Sow Allium family (onions, shallots, garlic, chives) Beans Beets Brassica family (cabbage, broccoli, kale, collards, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower) Carrots Celery Chard Corn (selectd an “early” type that will germinate at lower temperatures) Curcubit famil (cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, melons, gourds) Herbs (edible and ornamental) Lettuce Nightshade family (eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes—from real seed, not “seed potatoes”) Asian vegetables Parsnip Peas Radishes Spinach Herbs for Wintersown Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon - SERPENT GARLIC Z4-10 Basil Rosemary Allium schoenoprasum - PROFUSION Thyme CHIVES Z4-10 Sage Althaea officinalis - MARSH MALLOW Z3-9 Parsley Lavender Anemone tomentosa - GRAPE LEAF ANEMONE Z4-8 Achillea ageratum - SWEET NANCY Z3-10 Angelica atropurpurea - GREAT ANGELICA Z4-9 Achillea millefolium - COMMON YARROW Z3-10 Anthemis tinctoria - DYER'S CHAMOMILE Z4-9 Achillea millefolium - PINK-FLOWERED COMMON YARROW Z3-10 Apocynum androsaemifolium - INDIAN HEMP Z3-9 Aconitum napellus - GARDEN MONKSHOOD Z3-7 Armoracia rusticana - HORSERADISH Z3-8 Agastache rugosa - GIANT HYSSOP Z6-10 Artemisia abrotanum - LEMON-SCENTED SOUTHERNWOOD Z3-9 Agrimonia eupatoria - AGRIMONY Z6-9 Artemisia absinthium - WORMWOOD Z3-9 Agrimonia pilosa - CHINESE AGRIMONY Z5- 9 Artemisia dracunculus var. sativa - FRENCH TARRAGON Z3-9 Alcea rosea - HOLLYHOCK Z3-9 Artemisia vulgaris - MUGWORT Z3-9 Alchemilla alpina - ALPINE LADY'S-MANTLE Z3-9 Asclepias tuberosa - BUTTERFLY WEED Z3- 9 Alchemilla mollis - LADY"S MANTLE Z3-9 Astilbe - PLUME FLOWER Z5-8 Alkanna tinctoria - ALKANET Z4-9 (biennial) Bellis perennis - ENGLISH DAISY Z4-8 Allium cepa - EGYPTIAN ONION Z4-10 Campanula rapunculus - RAMPION Z4-7 Allium sativum - GARLIC Z4-10 Campanula rotundifolia - BLUEBELL Z4-7 Chamaemelum nobile - ROMAN Hypericum perforatum - ST.
    [Show full text]
  • Fens and Their Rare Plants in the Beartooth Mountains, Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming
    United States Department of Agriculture Fens and Their Rare Plants in the Beartooth Mountains, Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming Bonnie Heidel, Walter Fertig, Sabine Mellmann-Brown, Kent E. Houston, and Kathleen A. Dwire Forest Rocky Mountain General Technical Report Service Research Station RMRS-GTR-369 November 2017 Heidel, Bonnie; Fertig, Walter; Mellmann-Brown, Sabine; Houston, Kent E.; Dwire, Kathleen A. 2017. Fens and their rare plants in the Beartooth Mountains, Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-369. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 110 p. Abstract Fens are common wetlands in the Beartooth Mountains on the Shoshone National Forest, Clarks Fork Ranger District, in Park County, Wyoming. Fens harbor plant species found in no other habitats, and some rare plants occurring in Beartooth fens are found nowhere else in Wyoming. This report summarizes the studies on Beartooth fens from 1962 to 2009, which have contributed to current knowledge of rare plant distributions and biodiversity conservation. The study area is the Wyoming portion of the Beartooth Mountains in the Middle Rocky Mountains. Here, we profile 18 fens that occur over the range of elevations, settings, geomorphic landforms, and vegetation. The wetland flora from these 18 fens is composed of 58 families, 156 genera, and 336 vascular plant species—more than 10 percent of the known Wyoming flora. We discuss 32 rare vascular plant species and 1 bryophyte species associated with Beartooth fens and their State and regional significance. Protection and management of Beartooth fens are addressed in guidance documents prepared by the U.S.
    [Show full text]