General poisoning notes:

Cattle have been fatally poisoned when fed on rangeland containing Canadian milk-vetch (Astragalus canadensis). Experiments with sheep indicated that plant material must contain NO2 at 250 mg/kg of body weight to produce toxic responses and 275 mg/kg body weight for a lethal dose. In week-old chicks, the LD-50 = 2 g of plant ingested (Williams and James 1975).

References:

Williams, C., James, L. F. 1975. Toxicity of nitro-containing Astragalus to sheep and chicks. J. Range Manage., 28: 260-263.

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Astragalus canadensis L.

Vernacular name(s): Canadian milk-vetch

Scientific family name: Leguminosae

Vernacular family name: pea

References:

Agriculture Quebec. 1975. Noms des maladies des plantes du Canada/ Names of plant diseases in Canada. , Quebec City, Que., Canada. 288 pp.

Alex, J. F., Cayouette, R., Mulligan, G. A. 1980. Common and botanical names of weeds in Canada/Noms populaire et scientifiques des plantes nuisibles du Canada. Revised. Agric. Can. Publ., Ottawa, Ont., Canada. 132 pp.

Bailey, L. H., Bailey, E. Z. 1976. Hortus third. Revised. MacMillan, New York, N.Y., USA. 1290 pp.

Scoggan, H. J. 1978, 1979. The flora of Canada. Nat. Mus. Nat. Sci. (Ottawa) Publ. Bot. 7(1)-7(4). 1711 pp.

Van Wijk, H. L. 1911. A dictionary of plant names. Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, The Netherlands. 1444 pp.

Victorin, M. 1964. Flore Laurentienne. 2nd ed. Univ. Montreal, Montreal, Que., Canada. 952 pp.

Geographic Information

Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
Northwest Territories
Ontario
Quebec
Saskatchewan

References:

Bailey, L. H., Bailey, E. Z. 1976. Hortus third. Revised. MacMillan, New York, N.Y., USA. 1290 pp.

Boivin, B. 1966, 1967. Énumération des plantes du Canada. Provencheria 6. Nat. Can. (Que.) 93: 253-274; 371-437; 583-646; 989-1063. 94: 131-157; 471-528; 625-655.

Toxic parts:

flowers
leaves

References:

Williams, C., James, L. F. 1975. Toxicity of nitro-containing Astragalus to sheep and chicks. J. Range Manage., 28: 260-263.

Toxic plant chemicals:

3-nitropropionic acid

References:

Williams, C., James, L. F. 1975. Toxicity of nitro-containing Astragalus to sheep and chicks. J. Range Manage., 28: 260-263.

Animals/Human Poisoning:

Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation.

Cattle

General symptoms of poisoning:

death

References:

Williams, C., James, L. F. 1975. Toxicity of nitro-containing Astragalus to sheep and chicks. J. Range Manage., 28: 260-263.

Sheep

Information Source: ©Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System, Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility.