Rattle-Weed. Loco-Weed
Astragalus Leucopsis, Torr. And Gray. Pea Family
Stems.—A foot or so high. Leaflets.—In many pairs; six lines or more long. Flowers.—Greenish-white; six lines long; in spikelike racemes an inch or two long. Calyx.—With teeth more than half the length of the campanulate-tube. Pod.—Thin; bladdery-inflated; an inch or more long, on a smooth stalk twice or thrice the length of the calyx-tube. (See Astragalus.) Hab.—Santa Barbara to San Diego.
These plants are very noticeable and quite pretty, with their pale foliage, symmetrical leaves, and white flowers; but they are dreaded by the farmers of the region of their growth, who aver that they are deadly loco-weeds. It is said that native stock will not touch them; but animals brought from a distance and unacquainted with them, eat them, with dreadful results of loco.
We have numerous species, all rather difficult of determination.