148 STOCK-POISONING PLANTS OF MONTANA. 



LOW MILK VETCH. 



{Orophaca caespitosa (Nutt.) Britton.) 



A low stemless, tufted, silky perennial, with 3-parted leaves crowded 

 upon a short, branched, woody base, and numerous flowers which 

 are exceeded by the leaves (PL XXXV). This species is locally 

 abundant on dry plains and hillsides near Bozeman, Fort Benton, 

 Fridley, Gardiner, Grafton, Billings, Lewiston, Baltic, Missoula, and 

 Deerlodge. The general distribution of the species is from Nebraska 

 and South Dakota to Montana and the Northwest Territory. It is 

 abundant in the grazing land on the benches near Bozeman. The 

 plant has been suspected of being one of the Montana locoweeds, but 

 numerous closely grazed flowering plants were noticed in one field 

 where the horses were not known to be affected by the loco disease. 

 Immediately adjacent to these plants were numerous specimens of 

 Bcdsamorhiza sagittata which had not been grazed upon at all, a fact 

 that suggests that the vetch is the better fodder. Experiments made 

 with both plants verify that belief. 



Fifty grams of the perfectly fresh flowering and fruiting plant was 

 offered to a hungry young rabbit two hours or so after gathering. 

 All but the seed pods had been eaten after seven hours, and they, too, 

 were all eaten next morning. No ill consequences resulted, and in 

 fact the rabbit readily ate about 5 grams more of the plant the second 

 da}", thus showing that it was an acceptable food. 



FALSE ESPARCET. 



{Astragalus hisulcatus (Hook.) A. Gra}'.) 



A rather stout perennial, 2 to 3 feet high, with numerous simple 

 stems forming a large stool, long many-pinnate leaves, and narrow 

 elongated racemes of show}^ purple flowers (PI. XXXVI). The 

 seed pods are characteristically two-grooved on the upper surface. 

 It blossoms during May and June and the seeds ripen in July and 

 August. This plant has attracted considerable attention in Montana 

 on account of its abundance and its aggressive habits in certain locali- 

 ties. It is generally distributed over the State, and in many places 

 grows so abundantl}^ that it yields a fair crop of hay. Ordinarily it 

 does not cover the ground completely, but grows in large stools 

 which are separated by varying distances. A few large areas were 

 observed where it covered the ground in the manner of a cultivated 

 forage plant. Such areas are quite striking on account of the numer- 

 ous bright violet-colored flowers. The plant is known to a number of 

 stockmen by the name wild esparcet on account of its slight resem- 

 blance in general habit to the cultivated esparcet. It is at present 

 <;ut for hay in only a small number of localities. When offered to 



