Coulter Conyza, Horsetail Conyza

Laennecia courlteri

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Description

Laennecia courlteri is an herbaceous, 3 to 6 ft or 100 to 150 cm tall annual of the Sunflower family (Asteraceae) and has a definite taproot. Its stems are covered with sticky hairs giving it a spider web resemblance. Proximal leaves are broadly spatulate to oblong and two to five cm long by one to two cm wide. The distal leaves tend to be smaller, oblong to elliptical, and one to two cm long by three to ten mm wide. The leaves are arranged alternately and have coarsely toothed and sometimes lobed margins. The many-flowered heads grow in leafy spreading branches or clusters, becoming feathery white after flowering. These heads are about 5 mm tall and cream-colored containing 60-100 pistillate flowers with white corollas but lacking ray petals and 5 to 20 whitish disk florets. Bloom time can range from spring to fall with fall being the most typical. The flowers produce tiny cypsela (I.e., a dry, single-seeded, non-opening fruit with fused bristles).

Habitat

Laennecia courlteri is confined to the western third of the state. It is commonly found in disturbed sites, stream banks, roadsides, and fields.

Toxic Agent

The toxic agent of these plants is unknown. Laennecia courlteri has poisoned sheep, goats, and cattle in experimental trials. During drought, this plant has been responsible for serious losses of cattle in the Trans-Pecos region. Horsetail Conyza has not been fed experimentally, but cattle and goats have been lost after consuming the plant. Both result in polioencephalomalacia. Kingsbury, on pg. 397 Plants of the United States and Canada, reported fresh green leaves force-fed to lambs (3% of body weight) resulted in death in three days.

Signs of Livestock Ingestion

Clinical signs associated with poisoning by these plants are related to brain damage and may include: Walking in circles; Hyperexcitability; Muscle tremors; Apparent blindness; Coma; Death. If begun early enough, treatment with thiamine may reverse the condition.

Management Strategies

Laennecia courlteri is unpalatable, and livestock eat it only when forced. Laennecia courlteri is normally a problem in a drought when the plants are young, and forage is limited. Horsetail is usually consumed only after it is treated with the herbicide 2,4-D. Do not allow animals access to treated plants until the plants are dead and dry. These plants readily invade disturbed areas and often increase after mechanical brush control has disturbed the soil. Laennecia courlteri has increased where Spike 20P® was used to control woody plants.