Locoweeds

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of plants known to contain alkaloids that can induce neurological and behavioral disorders in livestock
2. A category of flowering plants that are often toxic to animals due to the presence of psychoactive compounds
3. Certain wild plants notorious for causing the "locoweed" syndrome in animals, marked by changes in behavior and movement

Etymology: Ranchers in the American Southwest and Mexico noticed that livestock that grazed certain plants stumbled, trembled, and wandered aimlessly, so they named the plants after the animals' condition, using the Spanish word "loco," meaning crazy. English speakers in the region adopted the name, and "locoweed" combines "loco" with "weed." "Locoweeds" is simply its plural. The toxin responsible is swainsonine, an alkaloid found in plants of the genera Astragalus and Oxytropis. It interferes with the cells that regulate brain and nervous system function, and animals that eat the plants over time can suffer lasting damage.