sweet
cloverCoarse, biennial herb, .4 to 2 m tall. Leaves alternate, pinnately compound; leaflets 3, obovate, mostly 1 to 2.5 cm long, .5 to 1.5 cm wide, stipules lanceolate. Flowers yellow or white, 5 to 7 mm long, fragrant; borne in 4 to 12 cm long racemes. Pods small,.2 to.4 cm long. Found throughout the south; most abundant on calcareous or alkaline soils, fields, roadsides and waste places. Cultivated as a forage crop and soil builder.
TOXICITY
Under certain conditions, such as mold accumulation in the hay, coumarin, a harmless substance, is converted into dicoumarin. This compound interferes with the blood clotting mechanism, thus leading to hemorrhage.
SYMPTOMS
Cattle are primarily affected, although losses in horses and sheep have occurred. Sheep are much more resistant to the effects of the toxic principle than are cattle.
Symptoms are related to massive blood loss. Swellings appear under the skin due to accumulations of blood. These swellings vary in size and may occur at any site on the body, but particularly in areas that are susceptible to bruising. Pale mucous membranes, rapid and weak pulse, and weakness are observed. Females may hemorrhage following calving. Occasionally animals hemorrhage internally and exhibit signs of shock.
TREATMENT
Remove sweet clover hay from animals immediately. Vitamin K injections and transfusions of whole blood are suggested.
scotch broomErect, bushy shrub, 1 to 2.5 m tall, stems and branches dark green. Leaves alternate, simple or palmately three-foliolate, obovate to elliptic, .5 to 1.5 cm long, entire, evergreen or deciduous. Flowers showy, yellow, shaped like a sweet pea, 1.5 to 2.5 cm long; borne in terminal racemes. Pods long ciliate, flattened, broadly linear, 4 to 5 cm long, several seeded. Found mostly in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, cultivated and sometimes escaping lawns, roadsides, open woods.
TOXICITY
Poisoning from this shrub is usually of a mild type. Large amounts are required to cause symptoms in animals. Alkaloids have been identified as being the toxic principle. Cytisin, sparteine and isosparteine are found in the twigs, leaves and seeds in small amounts. A glycoside, scoparin, has also been isolated.
SYMPTOMS
The usual animal poisoned is the horse. The alkaloid portions cause depression of the nervous system and the glycoside causes a diuretic effect. Occasionally excitement is observed along with incoordination. Coma and death can result from ingestion of large amounts.
TREATMENT
Non-specific. Symptomatic treatment is suggested.
