430 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



Sarcobatus Maximiliani Nees, Torr. Grease-wood 



A glabrous perennial with succulent foliage and spiny branches. Wood 

 hard. 



Distribution. In dry, alkaline soil from western Nebraska to New Mexico, 

 Nevada, and Montana; most abundant west of the front Rockies. 



Poisonous properties. Prof. Chesnut says: 



A correspondent in New Mexico states that on one occasion he counted as many as 

 one hundred sheep that had been killed by eating the leaves of this plant. It is claimed 

 that cows are not affected by eating it at any time and that sheep can eat it quite freely 

 in winter. Death is perhaps due more to the bloating effect than to any poisonous sub- 

 stance which the plant contains. 



It might be noted also in this connection that the sharp spines on the plant 

 often inflict serious injuries to persons who come in contact with it and also to 

 animals, setting up inflammation and causing the formation of pus. It is used 

 as a forage plant. 



3. Salsola L. Saltwort 



Bushy branched herbs, succulent when young, but rigid at maturity; leaves 

 terete, prickly-pointed and sessile; flowers sessile and axillary; calyx 5-parted, 

 persistent, enclosing the depressed fruit, the divisions horizontal, winged on the 

 back, enclosing the utricle; stamens 5; ovary depressed; style 2; embryo coiled 

 in a conical spiral. About 40 species of wide distribution, saline soils. 



Salsola Kali L,., var. tenuifolia G. T. W. Meyer. Russian Thistle 



An herbaceous, smooth or slightly pubescent annual, diffusely branched 

 from the base; from \ l / 2 to 3 feet high, spherical in the mature form; leaves 

 fleshy, alternate, succulent, linear, subterete, 1-2 inches long, pointed in the 

 older specimens; upper leaves in the mature plant persistent, each subtending 

 2 leaf-like bracts and a flower; stem and branches red; apetalous flowers soli- 

 tary and sessile; calyx consisting of 5 persistent lobes, enclosing the dry fruit 

 which is usually rose colored, about 1-12 of an inch long; 5 stamens, nearly as 

 long as the calyx; pistils simple with 2 slender styles producing a single ob- 

 conical depressed seed, dull gray or green, without albumen ; embryo spirally 

 coiled. The plant flowers in July or August. 



Distribution. Common from Minnesota to Kansas, west across the con- 

 tinent, Illinois and Kansas to New Jersey. 



Injurious properties. The Russian thistle not only clogs the harvesters 

 and harrow, injures horses legs so that boots have to be put on them but is 

 equally disagreeable to come in contact with, to man. On this point, Prof. 

 Dewey says: 



The sharp spines on the plants not only irritate and worry both horses and men, 

 but often, by breaking under the skin, cause festering sores on the horses' legs, so that 

 in many localities it has been found necessary to protect them with high boots or 

 leggings. In handling grain or flax, in the processes of hauling and threshing, the sharp 

 spines cause considerable irritation and consequent loss of time. 



AMARANTHACEAE. Amaranth Family 



Herbs, or in some cases, shrubs ; leaves simple, mostly entire ; flowers small, 

 green or white with bractlets, usually in terminal spikes or heads; petals none; 

 calyx herbaceous or membranous, 2-5 parted; segments distinct or united; 



