Fabaceae FAMILY

Oxytropis sericea

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

This species contains the indolizidine alkaloid 'swainsonine'. Chronic intoxication with this alkaloid causes a variety of neurological disorders in grazing animals along with reduced appetite which can lead to weight loss and cessation of reproductive ability. Swainsonine has also been found to have potential for use in anti-cancer drug treatments. In some species, other alkaloids are suspected of causing toxicity. In addition, some members of the genus have been reported to accumulate selenium - although this is an essential trace element it can be toxic in higher doses. Signs and symptoms of selenium toxicity include a garlic odour on the breath, gastrointestinal disorders, hair loss, sloughing of nails, fatigue, irritability, and neurological damage - in extreme cases it can result in death.

Botanical Description

Oxytropis sericea is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial plant growing 15 - 30cm tall from a deep, many headed caudex[ 1050 Title Fire Effects Information System Publication Author Website http://www.feis-crs.org/feis/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line information site with comprehensive information on over 1,100 species of plant. Mainly developed to supply information on the effects of fire on plants and animals, it also contains a wealth of other information on the plants ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeWestern N. America - Oregon to Montana and South Dakota, south through Nevada and Nebraska to New Mexico and Texas

HabitatOpen, well-drained slopes, and grassy subalpine openings bordered by open wooded hillsides or coniferous forests. It is infrequent to common on prairie uplands, streambanks, valleys, and alpine sites[ 1050 Title Fire Effects Information System Publication Author Website http://www.feis-crs.org/feis/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line information site with comprehensive information on over 1,100 species of plant. Mainly developed to supply information on the effects of fire on plants and animals, it also contains a wealth of other information on the plants ].