Eastern whorled milkweed
General poisoning notes:
Eastern whorled
milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) is a native plant found in fields in
parts of southern Canada. It has caused poisoning in experimental feeding tests
in sheep. Large quantities of fresh plant were administered with a balling gun
at about 2.2% of body weight, causing symptoms of poisoning (Marsh and Clawson
1921). The early literature is rife with contradictions in determining the
scientific names of various milkweeds. Asclepias verticillata was termed
Asclepias verticillata var. geyeri in Marsh and Clawson (1921).
For more information on Asclepias taxonomy see Woodson (1954).
Nomenclature:
Scientific Name: Asclepias verticillata L.
Vernacular
name(s): eastern whorled milkweed
Scientific family
name: Asclepiadaceae
Vernacular family
name: milkweed
Geographic Information
Manitoba, Ontario,
Saskatchewan.
Toxic parts:
Flower buds, leaves
Toxic plant chemicals:
Galitoxin
Animals/Human Poisoning:
Note: When an
animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993)
contained no detailed explanation.
Sheep
General symptoms of
poisoning:
Agitation,
bloat, breathing, labored, convulsions, death, depression, opisthotonos, pupil
dilation, temperature, elevated, trembling, weakness, posterior.
Notes on poisoning:
Experimental
feeding of fresh eastern whorled milkweed caused poisoning in sheep. The
animals fell down and went through characteristic running movements. The head
and jaws occasionally moved compulsively. The pulse was often weak. Ingesting
2.2% of body weight was necessary to produce serious poisoning in sheep.
Animals do not normally eat these distasteful plants or other milkweeds (Marsh
and Clawson 1921).
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