Any of several plants indigenous to the western United States, of genus Oxytropis or Astragalus, are toxic to cattle and the symptoms of poisoning include nervous problems
Any of several plants indigenous to the western United States, are toxic to cattle and the symptoms of poisoning include nervous problems. From the Spanish loco meaning mad or insane and weed
any of several leguminous plants of western North America causing locoism in livestock
a plant that grows in America and makes animals ill if they eat it (loco + weed). Any of several species of poisonous plants of the genera Astragalus and Oxytropis, in the pea family (see legume), native to the prairies of north-central and western North America. These low-growing plants (up to 1.5 ft [45 cm] high) have variably hairy, fernlike leaves and spikes of pealike flowers. They pose a danger to grazing animals because they contain a toxin that affects muscle control, producing frenzied behaviour, impaired vision, and sometimes death. Because they taste bad, livestock usually eat them only when other forage is scarce. Decaying locoweeds release toxins into the soil that are sometimes absorbed by otherwise harmless forage crops