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Description
Singletary pea is a legume with winged stems that grow from
10 to 40 inches long. Its compound leaves have two long, narrow
leaflets up to 3 inches long and terminate in a branched tendril.
The small, pea-like flowers are red to bluish. Distinctive
pods, 1 to 1.5 inches long, are covered with hair attached
to small, raised bumps. Each pod contains four to 10 mottled,
round seeds.
Distribution and habitat
Historically, singletary pea was planted as a cover crop and
a cool season forage, often mixed with small grains. It has
escaped cultivation and is found in north central and northeastern
Texas. It is common along roadsides and in pastures where
it has been allowed to go to seed.
Regions: 1, 3,
4.
Toxic agent
The vegetation of singletary pea is not toxic and is highly
nutritious, but the seeds contain toxic amino acids. Lathyrism,
the neurological syndrome most often produced by chronic consumption
of the seeds, can affect all species including humans, but
horses are the most sensitive. Horses are usually affected
by hay containing intact pods with seeds. Bovine cases usually
result from grazing pastures with many mature plants.
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Livestock signs
Horses with lathyrism demonstrate these
signs:
- Incoordination of rear legs
- Unusual stance with rear legs too far forward
- Exaggerated stepping of rear legs
- Paralysis of rear legs
Cattle with lathyrism show:
Integrated management strategies
Remove horses from hay containing singletary pea seeds as
soon as signs develop; most will recover within 4 to 6 weeks.
The condition becomes irreversible if the animals continue
to eat the seeds. Cattle removed from the pasture recover
in a few days. Pastures with singletary pea should be grazed
before seed production. Do not feed hay containing seedpods
to horses.
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