Athanasia trifurcata
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Date
Authors
Botha, C.J. (Christoffel Jacobus)
Venter, Elna
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Abstract
DISTRIBUTION:
Grows in the south-western Cape near the coast, preferably in sandy soils. Important species in coastal Rhenosterveld. Broad strip approximately 100km wide along southern Cape coast.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION: General: A perennial, aromatic shrub + 1,3 m high. Not very palatable. Leaves: The grey-green to bright green alternate leaves are up to 40 mm long, ending in three to five “fingers”. Flowers: Bright yellow, composite. November - March.
TOXIC PRINCIPLE: Unknown hepatoxin. Not very toxic.
SYNDROMES: Hepatogenous photosensitivity primarily due to liver parenchymal damage.
SYSTEMS AFFECTED: Liver.
CLINICAL SIGNS: • Unpalatable weed. • Only occasionally grazed by sheep if forced to do so. • Usually small number of sheep affected. • Clinical signs noticed in sheep that grazed on veld heavily infested with Athanasia trifurcata were: - Apathy, - anorexia, - ruminal stasis, - icterus and - photosensitivity
NECROPSY: • Very similar to Lasiospermum bipinnatum and Athanasia minuta poisoning. • Liver swollen, yellow, distinct lobulation. • Oedema of gall bladder.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION: General: A perennial, aromatic shrub + 1,3 m high. Not very palatable. Leaves: The grey-green to bright green alternate leaves are up to 40 mm long, ending in three to five “fingers”. Flowers: Bright yellow, composite. November - March.
TOXIC PRINCIPLE: Unknown hepatoxin. Not very toxic.
SYNDROMES: Hepatogenous photosensitivity primarily due to liver parenchymal damage.
SYSTEMS AFFECTED: Liver.
CLINICAL SIGNS: • Unpalatable weed. • Only occasionally grazed by sheep if forced to do so. • Usually small number of sheep affected. • Clinical signs noticed in sheep that grazed on veld heavily infested with Athanasia trifurcata were: - Apathy, - anorexia, - ruminal stasis, - icterus and - photosensitivity
NECROPSY: • Very similar to Lasiospermum bipinnatum and Athanasia minuta poisoning. • Liver swollen, yellow, distinct lobulation. • Oedema of gall bladder.
Description
Colour photos. Final web-ready size: JPEG. Photo 1: 14.4 kb, 96 ppi; Photo 2: 103 kb, 96 ppi; Photo 3: 17.7 kb, 96 ppi; Photo 4: 7.2 kb, 72 ppi. Original TIFF file housed at the Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences, Section Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Pretoria.
Keywords
Plant poisoning, Toxicology, Plant poisoning in animals, Poisonous plants, Photosensitivity, Liver, Hepatogenous, Hepatotoxin
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Citation
Botha, CJ & Venter, E 2002, 'Plants poisonous to livestock Southern Africa (CD-ROM)' University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences, Section Pharmacology and Toxicology, Pretoria, South Africa.