Birdsville Indigo (Indigofera linnaei) is a flat, mat-forming, annual or perennial legume. It has many thin, hairy stems, and alternate pinnate, grey-green, hairy, oval shaped leaflets in two rows. I. linnaei produces tight clusters of pinkish red pea-like flowers followed by groups of cylindrical seed pods. The plant is most abundant in pastures at the start of the summer wet season, when first rains stimulate growth of the plant.
Toxic components
All parts of I. linnaei contain indospicine, a non-proteinogenic amino acid with hepatotoxic properties and beta-nitropropionic acid, a mycotoxin and potent mitochondrial inhibitor. Grazing on pastures containing I. linnaei has been associated with the development of Indigofera toxicity.
- Depression
- Appetite Loss
- Progressive Incoordination
- Wide-based Stance
- Dragging Toe
- Weight Loss
- Elevated Tail
- Recumbency
- Rahman, Taj Ur, et al. Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Genus Indigofera: A Review Records of Natural Products 12.1 . 2018.
- Fletcher, Mary T., Rafat AM Al Jassim, and A. Judith Cawdell-Smith The Occurrence and Toxicity of Indospicine to Grazing Animals Agriculture 5.3. 2015.
- Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System Available online at http://www.eddmaps.org/; last accessed August 5, 2014. The University of Georgia - Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.. 2014.
- Lima EF, Riet-Correa F, Gardner DR, Barros SS, Medeiros RM, Soares MP, Riet-Correa G. Poisoning by Indigofera lespedezioides in horses Toxicon. 2012.
- Soni, Madhusudan G., et al 5#-Nitropropionic Acid in the Diet: Toxicity Aspects Reviews in Food and Nutrition Toxicity 2. 2004.
