Plant Pathology Commons^™

Cotton Fireweed : Potential Poison : Research Roundup, J Dickson, R. Hill

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Although long known as a potential toxic species because of its content, and although it is widely distribuited in all Australian States, cotton fireweed has not generally been consdidered toxic because it is unpalatable and not usually eaten by stock.

In 1973 cattle deaths occured near Ravensthorpe which led to research into Senecio quadridentatus (cotton fireweed).

The plant must be seen as a potential toxic species in situations where the lack of other feed forces cattle to eat the normally unpalatable cotton fireweed.