Greasewood-Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook.) Torr.-Poisonous plant

Greasewood

General poisoning notes:

Greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) is a native shrub found in western Canada from southwestern Saskatchewan to southeastern British Columbia. In the western United States, sheep that ingested this plant became ill and died. Oxalates are present in all parts of the plant but are concentrated in the leaves. This plant is regarded as valuable forage. Toxicity can be avoided with good animal management (Kingsbury 1964, Cheeke and Schull 1985).

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook.) Torr.

Vernacular name(s): greasewood

Scientific family name: Chenopodiaceae

Vernacular family name: goosefoot  

Geographic Information

Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan.

Toxic parts:

Leaves

Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:

Oxalates are found in greasewood. On a dry-weight basis the total content was measured at between 10 and 22%, mostly as soluble salts. The oxalate content is greatest in the leaves, the amount increasing with maturity. Ingesting plant material equal to 1.5-5.0% of and animal''s body weight can cause toxicity in sheep (Kingsbury 1964).

Toxic plant chemicals:

oxalate

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:

Coma, death, depression, prostration, weakness.

Notes on poisoning:

In the western United States, 1000 sheep were lost at a single time. Symptoms occur within 3-5 h of ingesting a toxic quantity of greasewood plant. Symptoms may occur abruptly after animals have been watered. Toxic signs include depression, weakness, prostration, coma, and death. Respiration and heart action grow progressively weaker, and death occurs in 12-20 h. Hypocalcemia is caused by the formation of calcium oxalate in the system. Microscopic lesions occur in the kidney tubules (Kingsbury 1964, Scimeca and Oehme 1985).