Purple Locoweed - Oxytropis lambertii
East of Hillsboro
April 9, 2014
There are two species of Oxytropis found in April near Hillsboro. The one depicted here is Oxytropis lambertii (Purple Locoweed, Woolly Locoweed, or Lambert Crazyweed). Locoweed produces a bladder seedpod. Like Oxytropis sericea, Oxytropis lambertii, is poisonous to cattle - maybe. The “maybe” comes from recent research which indicates that the plant itself may not be poisonous. This line of research seems to indicate that an endophytic fungi, which sometimes inhabits the plant, may be the culprit. This fungus, of the genus Embellisia is known to produce swainsonine.
Sawyer Peak Trail, Black Range, New Mexico
June 30, 2019
Photograph immediately above and three below.
