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Grazing North Texas – Silverleaf Nightshade
By Tony Dean
Silverleaf nightshade is a native perennial forb that grows from one to three feet in height. It sprouts from deep, woody, creeping roots or from seed. Its silver color is caused in part by tiny densely matted hairs covering the entire plant. Sharp prickles are scattered over the stem and the underside of leaves. The leaves are one to five inches long and silver on the underside with wavy margins.
The flowers are violet to pale purple with five petals united at the base, and the anthers are large and yellow. The fruit is a yellow round berry about a half inch in diameter that turns darker with maturity.
This plant grows in all areas of Texas and in much of the southwestern United States and Mexico. It can be found in most soil types and often appears in disturbed areas.
Silverleaf nightshade is almost useless as forage for livestock because it can be poisonous to many domestic animals. However, deer eat the berries and new growth, quail eat the seeds and turkey consume the berries whole.
Silverleaf nightshade is in the potato family, as are many other plants such as tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and tobacco. These plants produce a glycoalaloid, a natural pesticide that is normally in highest concentration in leaves, flowers, and fruits.
To read more pick up a copy of the September 2017 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
Silverleaf nightshade plant. (Photo by Tony Dean)
One of my professors out at Texas Tech University always told us that we aren’t just raising cattle, we’re raising grass, because without grass there is no cattle business. The same applies to most livestock species and crops we seek to raise- without good land management, no good yield can grow.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Barry Whitworth, DVM, MPH
With the prolonged drought, most pastures in Oklahoma end up in poor condition. With the lack of available forage, animals may go in search of alternative foods.
If oak trees are in the pastures, acorns may be a favorite meal for some livestock in the fall. This may result in oak poisoning.
Oak leaves, twigs, buds, and acorns may be toxic to some animals when consumed.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Tony Dean
There are a handful of grasses on North Texas grazing lands ranchers need to know, not because they are highly desirable, but rather because they are not of much value. I call them “decom” plants, which is am acronym for “Don’t Ever Count On Me.” Silver bluestem is a “decom” grass.
Silver bluestem is a perennial which grows in all areas of Texas. It can survive in almost all soil types, and in full sun conditions or in semi shade. It grows up to three feet tall and is easily recognized with the presence of the white fuzzy seed head. Also, one of the identifying characteristics of Silver bluestem is a bend in the stems at each node, causing the plants to take on a rounded shape as they mature.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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