bitter sneezeweedAnnual, 15 cm to 1 m tall, much branched herb with taproot. Stem leaves narrow, numerous, 2 to 7 cm long, 1 to 4 mm wide, bases not continuing as lines down the stem. Leaves, when crushed, with a strong disagreeable odor. Flower similar to H. autumnale. Found Virginia to Florida to Texas and extending into southern parts of adjacent northern states; most abundant in coastal plain where it may be very abundant weed in pastures, roadsides and waste places.
TOXICITY
The toxic principle is a glucoside, dugaldin, and a phenol. Sneezeweed appears to cause more severe signs than does bitterweed. In the Rocky Mountain area, sheep have been severely poisoned by consumption of all portions of the sneezeweed plant. Cattle may also be affected but require a much larger amount.
The plant retains its toxicity even after drying, therefore, heavily contaminated hay can cause problems. Most cases occur when animals are an summer pasture and other forage is not available.
SYMPTOMS
Sneezeweed is a severe irritant to the mucous membranes. Dullness, trembling and weakness are first observed. In many instances, vomiting is prominent. For this reason, it has been called "spewing sickness" by sheepmen. Many vomiting animals inhale part of the regurgitated material into the trachea and develop inhalation pneumonia. These animals usually survive only to become chronically poor performers and perhaps die later from secondary ailments.
Bitterweed can cause similar problems under experimental conditions. Cattle consume bitterweed only if other forage is unavailable.
TREATMENT
There is no effective treatment.
poison ivyPerennial, high climbing, woody vine. Leaves alternate, deciduous, pinnately compound; leaflets three, thin, bright green, shiny, ovate to elliptic, entire to serrate to shallowly lobed, 2 to 12 cm long, 2 to 12 cm wide. Flowers small, yellowish green, in clusters of 2 to 6 in lower leaf axils. Fruit a scarcely fleshy drupe, glabrous to short pubescent, .4 to.5 cm broad. Found throughout the southern states east of the Mississippi River; most abundant in moist woods but also in pastures, fence rows, roadsides and waste places.
Low shrub, .3 to 2 m tall; very similar in appearance to R. radicans; however, it does not climb and leaflets are thicker, dull green, hairy on both surfaces and are more often lobed or coarsely serrate. Fruit is densely pubescent rather than glabrous or short pubescent. Found throughout the south; most abundant on relatively dry, sunny sites in woodlands, thickets and old fields.
TOXICITY
The toxic principle is a phenolic compound called urushiol. It is a skin and mucous membrane irritant and is found in all parts of the plant. Some humans are quite sensitive to the effects of the toxin while others show no ill effects from coming into contact with the plant. The toxin has little or no effect on animals but pets may carry the irritating substance on their hair and thereby transmit it to humans.
SYMPTOMS
Susceptible humans exhibit intense itching with inflammation and the formation of blisters at the areas of contact. Animals are rarely affected. Burning maybe dangerous because the irritant may be transmitted by smoke.
TREATMENT
A physician should be consulted for proper treatment.
