locoweed

lo·co·weed

noun \ˈlō-(ˌ)kō-ˌwēd\

Definition of LOCOWEED

: any of several leguminous plants (genera Astragalus and Oxytropis) of western North America that cause locoism especially in livestock

First Known Use of LOCOWEED

1879

Rhymes with LOCOWEED

aniseed, antecede, beating reed, beggarweed, bitterweed, bottle-feed, bugleweed, butterweed, carpetweed, centipede, chicken feed, copyread, cottonseed, cottonweed, crazyweed, double reed, Ganymede, giant reed, go to seed, interbreed, intercede, interplead, jewelweed, jimsonweed, millipede, Nicene Creed, overfeed, pedigreed, pickerelweed, poppy seed, Port Said, pumpkinseed, quitclaim deed, retrocede, rosinweed, Runnymede, silverweed, supersede, thimbleweed, title deed, tumbleweed, underfeed, up to speed, waterweed

lo·co·weed

noun \ˈlō-(ˌ)kō-ˌwēd\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of LOCOWEED

: any of several leguminous plants (genera Astragalus and Oxytropis) of western North America that cause locoism in livestock

locoweed

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any of several species of poisonous plants of the genera Astragalus and Oxytropis, in the pea family (see legume), native to the prairies of north-central and western North America. These low-growing plants (up to 1.5 ft [45 cm] high) have variably hairy, fernlike leaves and spikes of pealike flowers. They pose a danger to grazing animals because they contain a toxin that affects muscle control, producing frenzied behaviour, impaired vision, and sometimes death. Because they taste bad, livestock usually eat them only when other forage is scarce. Decaying locoweeds release toxins into the soil that are sometimes absorbed by otherwise harmless forage crops.