VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Descurainia pinnata | Pinnate Tansymustard 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Pinnate tansymustard provides forage for livestock and wildlife species
before the plant matures [18].  It is generally considered to be fair
forage for sheep and goats but poor forage for cattle [20].  Pinnate
tansymustard is an important forage species on some overgrazed ranges
primarily because of its abundance [20].  It is poisonous to cattle if
consumed in large quantities and can cause "paralyzed tongue," which
prevents the animal from eating or drinking [18].  Other symptoms
include partial or complete blindness, and aimless wandering [20].
Pinnate tansymustard provides minimal food value for livestock and big
game species.  The seeds may be used by many birds and small mammals.


PALATABILITY : 
Overall palatability of pinnate tansymustard is low and decreases as the
plant matures [18].  In most areas, it is considered to be fair in
palatability for sheep and goats and poor for cattle [20].  Pinnate
tansymustard is lightly used by bighorn sheep during the early spring
[21].  The seeds of this species are probably fairly palatable to many
smaller birds and mammals.  The palatability and degree of use by
livestock and wildlife species for pinnate tansymustard (Descurainia
pinnata var. intermedia) in two western states is as follows [3]:

                                UT      WY

Cattle                         Fair    Good 
Sheep                          Good    Good
Horses                         Poor    Good
Pronghorn                      Fair    ----
Elk                            Fair    ----
Mule deer                      Fair    ----
Small mammals                  Fair    ----
Small nongame birds            Fair    ----
Upland game birds              Fair    ----
Waterfowl                      Poor    ----


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Pinnate tansymustard (var. intermedia) is rated as poor in energy and
protein value [3].  Mineral content of plants from a Washington site was
as follows [2]:

         Macronutrients (% dry weight)     Micronutrients (% dry weight)
  N      P      Ca    Mg     Na     S      Fe     Mn     B      Cu     Zn
1.34   0.29    1.16  0.26   0.04   0.31   0.03   0.002  0.003  0.0005 0.002

The overall food value of pinnate tansymustard from selected Great
Basin populations is given below [17]:

 Cal./kg     % Protein     % Carbohydrate     % Fat     % Ash     % Moisture
  3,660         27.2            63.3           0.50       2.9         6.1


COVER VALUE : 
Pinnate tansymustard provides some cover for small birds and mammals.
The degree to which pinnate tansymustard provides environmental
protection during one or more seasons for wildlife species in Utah has
been rated as follows [3]:

Pronghorn               Poor
Elk                     Poor
Mule deer               Poor
Small mammals           Fair
Small nongame birds     Fair
Waterfowl               Poor


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Pinnate tansymustard is rated low to moderate for erosion control and
short-term revegetation [3].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Native American made pinole flour from the seed pods of pinnate
tansymustard, and used the young shoots as an herb [18].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Species: Descurainia pinnata | Pinnate Tansymustard