W201 

 (leaf 2) 



dry and brown. The use of western false-hellebore is very much 

 greater near bed grounds or driveways and where sheep or cattle con- 

 centrate. At these areas and on overstocked ranges, the use is fre- 

 quently so complete that, by midsummer, the entire plant is eaten 

 to within a few inches of the soil. This concentrated use, however, 

 is usually regarded as a sign of serious overstocking. In Mon- 

 tana, and possibly elsewhere, elk and deer graze the plant, especially 

 during the fall and winter. 



The poisonous materials are concentrated in the root and the 

 young shoots. 1 As the plant matures, the poison decreases in the 

 aerial portions, so that the species is practically harmless at ma- 

 turity or when killed by frost. Reports indicate that all classes of 

 livestock are poisoned, but it is generally agreed that the danger is 

 slight where there is plenty of other forage and the animals have 

 normal appetites. 



Poisoning usually occurs under some abnormal condition, such as 

 at driveways, bed grounds, overgrazed ranges, or gathering pastures, 

 where hungry animals eat freely of this plant before grazing other 

 forage. Hall and Yates 2 describe the symptoms as including saliva- 

 tion, burning in the throat, weak pulse, and labored respiration, 

 and suggest such stimulants as tannic acid, lard and soda, for treat- 

 ing the sick animals. Poisoned animals usually recover in a few 

 days, although in very serious cases they may die in a few hours. 

 However, on properly grazed ranges, or where western false-helle- 

 bore is mainly a fall feed, few animals are poisoned, and deaths are 

 almost unknown. Vansell and Watkins report 3 that blossoms of 

 western false-hellebore sometimes cause heavy losses among honey- 

 bees, and that numerous ants, beetles, flies, and other insects are killed 

 by the flowers. 



Western false-hellebore is a very distinctive plant, being tall and 

 stout with large, strongly veined, stemless leaves and a long, showy, 

 terminal flower cluster consisting of numerous dull, white flowers. 

 The leaves are frequently punctured by insects and, as the season 

 advances, tend to lose their shape and color. On favorable sites, 

 however, the foliage often remains green until frosted. After frost 

 the plant turns brown and dry so that any such disturbance as wind 

 creates a harsh rustle of the leaves. 



FALSE-HELLEBORES (Vera'trum spp.) 



The false-hellebores are represented in North America by about 

 eight valid species, of which four are exclusively western. The genus 

 is also represented in Europe and Asia. They are coarse perennial 

 herbs of the bunchflower tribe (Melanthieae) of the lily family 

 (Liliaceae) or, as some authors prefer, a member of the bunchflower 

 family (Melanthaceae) of the lily order (Liliales). 



1 Hanzlik, P. J., and Eds, F. de. PHARMACOLOGY OF VEBATRUM CALIFOBNICUM. Soc. 

 Expt. Biol. and Med. Proc. 24 : 557-558. 1927. 



2 Hall, H. M., and Yates, H. S. STOCK POISONING PLANTS OP CALIFORNIA. Calif. Agr. 

 Espt. Sta. Bull. 249 : [2l9]-247, illus. 1915. 



3 Vansell, G. H., and Watkins, W. G. A PLANT POISONOUS TO ADULT SEES. Jour. Econ. 

 Ent. 2(V: 168-170. 1933. 



