4 BULLETIN 405/'U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



LOSSES FROM LUPINES. 



The losses from "lupinosis" in Europe have m some years been 

 very great. In 1880, m Pomerania the loss of sheep was 5.89 per 

 cent (Cornevin, 1893, p. 316). It is stated that in some herds in 

 northern Germany the loss was as great as one-half to three-fourths 

 of the total number. 



The known losses m America are very heavy. Chesnut and 

 Wilcox (1901, p. 106) tell of one case, among others, in which out 

 of 2,000 sheep trailed over a region covered with a large quantity of 

 lupine 1,000 were sick and 700 died. In another case 1,150 died out 

 of 2,500 (p. 104) . Losses of several hundred are not at all uncommon, 

 and occasionally the deaths may be nearly 50 per cent of the whole 

 number. More complete knowledge of the losses has been obtained 

 in Montana than in any other State, because Montana has been under 

 close observation for many years, and it is very possible that this 

 State suffers more than others, but more or less similar conditions 

 are found in other western States in which the moimtain regions are 

 used for sheep grazing. It is probable that the lupines rank as a 

 close second to Zygadenus in causing losses of sheep. 



DISTRIBUTION OF LUPINES. 



While lupines are found in the eastern United States rather spar- 

 ingly, and are there represented by only three species, in the Western 

 States there is a large number of species, and these frequently grow 

 in large masses, so that sometimes they are cut for hay. They form 

 an important factor in the number of forage plants. Horses seem 

 to be especially fond of them and will sometimes eat the green plants 

 with great greediness. 



Of the species of lupines in America, only a few have been used 

 in this investigation. One of these, Lupinus sericeus, is illustrated in 

 figure 1 . A thorough systematic study of the genus is in progress 

 by the Bureau of Plant Industry, and further work is being prose- 

 cuted for future publication, dealing with the characteristics of the 

 different species from the standpoint of chemistry and pharmacology, 

 as well as from the standpoint of field experimentation. 



COMMON NAMES OF LUPINES. 



The lupines are known under a large number of common names. 

 Among these are sundial, old-maid's bonnets, Quaker's bonnets, 

 Indian beans, wild beans, blue pea, and blue bean. In some sections 

 the name loco is used, but this is generally by those who do not 

 know the true locoes. 



