HPIPM:Coast fiddleneck

Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Magnoliophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Superorder	Asteranae
Order	Boraginales
Family	Boraginaceae
Genus	Amsinckia
Species	Amsinckia menziesii

Scientific Name

Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia

Common Name

common fiddleneck

Coast Fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii)

Compiled by Andrew Hulting, Oregon State University, and Evette Allison, Montana State University, from the following sources:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=AMMEI2

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/fiddlenecks.html

http://www.co.stevens.wa.us/weedboard/other%20weeds/HTM%20pages/cfiddleneck.htm

http://www.whitman.wsu.edu/weeds/commonfiddleneckmay.html

http://www.co.stevens.wa.us/weedboard/PDF_weed/cf.pdf

http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/onlinebks/weeds/fidlneck.htm

Identification and Life Cycle

Fiddlenecks are hairy, single or few-stemmed winter annuals that form distinctive flowering heads curled like the neck of a fiddle. They are toxic to livestock with some species containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. As a general rule, horses and cows are more susceptible to these toxins than sheep and goats. Seedlings have "Y" shaped cotyledons (seed leaves) with tiny blisters and a few fine hairs. Early leaves have coarse, sharp hairs and are 4-6 times as long as they are wide. Mature plants may reach 3.5 feet. Leaves are lance-shaped, coarse to the touch, hairy, and alternate on the stem. The plant produces yellow, funnel-shaped, five-lobed flowers on one side of a curled flower spike. At maturity, the four-lobed fruit breaks apart into four one-seeded nutlets. Coast fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia) and common fiddleneck (A. douglasiana) are very similar, but coast fiddleneck has gray nutlets while common fiddleneck has brown or black nutlets.

Habitats

Coast fiddleneck flourishes in disturbed areas along roadsides, neglected fields, waste places, in poor pastures and it can be a nuisance in winter grain fields. Fiddleneck is considered an indicator species of disturbed light soils. This plant can become invasive in abandoned cropland, land in CRP and neglected pastures.

Impacts

Fiddleneck (both fresh and dried plants in forage) can potentially cause severe liver damage when ingested by horses, cattle, and pigs. The mature seeds have been demonstrated to cause hepatic cirrhosis, known as "hard liver disease" of cattle and swine, and "walking disease" of horses. Sheep are either immune or highly resistant to the toxins in this species. This plant also may cause nitrate poisoning.

Biology and Ecology

These plants reproduce by seeds only. The 5-lobed calyx is bristly, yellow, hairy, and when it dries, the brittle hairs stick to skin and hair to be spread by humans or animals.

Biological Control

No known biological control.

Mechanical and Cultural Control

Cultivation works well for larger areas. Hand pulling small areas and mowing before seed production, can kill many of the plants and reduce the seedbank. Fiddlenecks do not compete well with established grasses.

Chemical Control

Chemical control is difficult because the hairs on this plant limit herbicide absorption.

In the table below are examples of herbicides that can be used to manage coast fiddleneck

Consult and follow all herbicide labels for additional rate, and application, crop restrictions, and safety information. Additional herbicide information can be found at http://www.greenbook.net.

Herbicide Active Ingredient trade name	Mode of Action	Product per Acre	Application Time or Growth Stage
Alfalfa
hexazinone	Group 5:photosynthesis inhibitor
*VelparAlfaMax		1.5-3 lbs/A	Apply at preemergence or early postemergence of weeds.
pendimethalin	Group 3:mitosis inhibitor
*Prowl H20		4 pints/A	Apply at preemergence or early postemergence of weeds.
Wheat
chlorsulfuron + metsulfuron + another broadleaf herbicide with a different mode of action (see label recommendations)	Group 2: acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor
*Several trade name products		0.014 - 0.019 lb ai/A preemergence or fall postemergence, 0.009 to 0.014 lb ai/A spring postemergence	Do not exceed 0.019 lb ai/A of a chlorsulfuron + metsulfuron premix in an 18-mo period. Use as a preemergence control in fall or spring, or any time after wheat is in the two-leaf stage but before boot stage. When applying postemergence, use 80% ai surfactant at 1 to 2 qrts/100 gal. for best results. Use when weeds are small and actively growing. Many crops cannot be planted for 2 years or longer after application. Perennial and annual ryegrass, and crimson clover may not be planted for 9 mo, barley and oats for 10 mo., or red clover for 15 mo. after an application
bromoxynil + MCPA (Bronate)	bromoxynil Group 6: photosystem II inhibitor; MCPA, Group 4: synthetic auxin
		0.25 to 0.5 lb active ingredient (ai) /A bromoxynil + 0.25 to 0.5 lb ae/A MCPA (1 to 2 pints/A Bronate)	Apply to winter wheat after three-leaf stage but before boot stage. Apply to weeds up to the four-leaf stage or 2 inches high. Certain larger weeds may be controlled; see label for size recommendations and application timings. Do not apply when crops are under moisture stress.

The information herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and that listing of commercial products, necessary to this guide, implies no endorsement by the authors or the Extension Services of Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming or Montana. Criticism of products or equipment not listed is neither implied nor intended. Due to constantly changing labels, laws and regulations, the Extension Services can assume no liability for the suggested use of chemicals contained herein. Pesticides must be applied legally complying with all label directions and precautions on the pesticide container and any supplemental labeling and rules of state and federal pesticide regulatory agencies. State rules and regulations and special pesticide use allowances may vary from state to state: contact your State Department of Agriculture for the rules, regulations and allowances applicable in your state and locality. Updated Nov 2008

References

For more images please visit IPM Images: http://www.ipmimages.org/search/action.cfm?q=fiddleneck