DISTRIBUTION:
Mostly on stony hillslopes and/or calciferous soil.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION:
General: A much-branched, perennial, woody shrublet with whitish stems.
Leaves: Very narrow, opposite leaves. Young leaves bright green.
Flowers: Yellow, slightly sticky flower heads at the ends of the branchlets. October - January.
Fruit: Seeds are covered with silvery hairs.
TOXIC PRINCIPLE:
Unknown hepatoxin.
SYNDROMES:
Hepatotoxic syndrome without photosensitization.
SYSTEMS AFFECTED:
Liver.
CLINICAL SIGNS:
Acute hepatoxicity in sheep. Sheep may show – apathy, - inappetance, - ruminal stasis and – a mild jaundice.
NECROPSY: Hepatomegaly, mosaic appearance. Mild icterus.
