42 MISC. PUBLICATION 9 0, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



and it grows in similar places. Some species of monkshood are 

 not poisonous, and these may be identified by their yellow blossoms. 

 All parts of the poisonous species are poisonous at all times, the 

 root being especially poisonous. All classes of stock, especially 

 cattle and sheep, are poisoned by this plant. However, it does not 

 grow so abundantly as some of the other poisonous plants, and 

 losses from it are almost negligible. 



MILKWEED 



Certain species of milkweed are known to have poisonous proper- 

 ties. Whorled milkweed (Asclepias galioides) has caused heavy 

 losses of sheep, cattle, and horses throughout its range. It occurs 

 on the dry plains and foothills of Arizona, New Mexico, southern 

 and southwestern Colorado, and southwestern Utah. Although, in 

 general, the plant is not readily eaten by animals, they eat it when 

 very hungry. Poisoning usually occurs when stock come upon a 

 patch of it after they have been driven some distance. It has also 

 been found in hay in sufficient quantities to produce poisoning, as 

 it does not lose its toxicity by drying. This species of milkweed is 

 rather slender but grows from 14 inches to 4 feet high. The leaves 

 are very narrow, from 1 to 4 inches long, and are in whorls on the 

 stem, that is, several leaves arise from one point on the stem. The 

 small, greenish-white blossoms grow in clusters resembling onion 

 blossoms. The pods are erect, from 2y 2 to 4 inches long, and are 

 long pointed above and short pointed below. 



WESTEEN SNEEZEWEED 



Western sneezeweed (Helenium hoopesii) is not so important as 

 some of the other plants discussed because it is not so widespread. 

 In some localities, however, it causes considerable damage. It is a 

 leafy plant growing to a height of from 1 to 3 feet. It branches 

 toward the top of the stalk, and several flowers may be found on one 

 plant. It resembles common sunflower somewhat, the outside of the 

 blossom being a bright orange color and the center a brownish 

 orange. It grows best on sunny slopes of the aspen-spruce belt 

 in moist well-drained soil. All parts of the plant are poisonous at 

 all times. Cattle may be poisoned, and sheep are particularly 

 susceptible under range conditions. (Fig. 22.) Ordinarily stock 

 will not eat the plant on account of its bitter taste, but they may 

 eat it when there is a lack of other forage. 



OAK AND OHOKECHERRY 



Both scrub oaks and chokecherry probably contain some injurious 

 substances, and they have caused some loss of stock, but as a rule 

 the loss from oak has occurred only when the stock have been forced, 

 by a lack of other forage, practically to subsist upon it alone. The 

 loss usually occurs in the spring, when the oak is just coming into 

 leaf and before other forage has started growth. Cattle are the 

 only class of stock affected. When there is enough other forage 

 available to supply the stock with a variety, oak makes a good forage. 



