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Plant ID Quiz Questions (25 Questions)

- A. Locoweed (Astragalus species) ✓

RanchSafety Team January 20, 2026 5 min read

What's in This Quiz

This document contains 25 quiz questions for the basic plant identification assessment. Questions cover the most important toxic plants affecting Texas livestock, with a mix of image-based identification, feature recognition, and practical application questions.

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Question Bank

Question 1 - Locoweed Identification

  • B. White clover
  • C. Alfalfa
  • D. Milk vetch
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Question 2 - Oak Toxicity Timing

  • B. Early spring when buds and young leaves emerge ✓
  • C. Mid-summer during full leaf stage
  • D. Late fall when leaves are dropping
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Question 3 - Oleander Recognition

  • B. Azalea
  • C. Oleander ✓
  • D. Hibiscus
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Question 4 - Jimsonweed Features

  • B. Spiny seed capsule (thorn apple) ✓
  • C. Square stems
  • D. Milky sap
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Question 5 - Nightshade Berries

  • B. Poke berry
  • C. Nightshade (Solanum species) ✓
  • D. Hackberry
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Question 6 - Perilla Mint Danger

  • B. It causes acute respiratory distress that is often fatal ✓
  • C. It only affects horses, not cattle
  • D. It is only toxic when frozen
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Question 7 - Cocklebur Seedling

  • B. Sunflower
  • C. Cocklebur ✓
  • D. Lamb's quarters
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Question 8 - Pigweed Identification

  • B. Hollow stems
  • C. Reddish stems and roots ✓
  • D. Thorny leaves
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Question 9 - Sorghum/Prussic Acid

  • B. No, wait at least 7-10 days after frost ✓
  • C. Yes, but only in the morning
  • D. No, never graze sudan grass
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Question 10 - Water Hemlock

  • B. Poison hemlock
  • C. Water hemlock ✓
  • D. Queen Anne's lace
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Question 11 - Bitterweed Region

  • B. Texas Gulf Coast
  • C. Central and West Texas ✓
  • D. Panhandle only
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Question 12 - Lantana Toxicity

  • B. Lantana ✓
  • C. Zinnia
  • D. Marigold
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Question 13 - Plant Part Toxicity

  • B. Roots are always most toxic
  • C. Toxicity varies by plant - seeds, leaves, or roots may be most dangerous ✓
  • D. All parts are equally toxic in all plants
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Question 14 - Stem Characteristic

  • B. Square stem ✓
  • C. Triangular stem
  • D. Hollow stem
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Question 15 - Chinaberry Recognition

  • B. Chinaberry ✓
  • C. Elderberry
  • D. Wild plum
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Question 16 - Yellow Jessamine

  • B. Yellow jessamine (Carolina jessamine) ✓
  • C. Trumpet vine
  • D. Cross vine
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Question 17 - Acute vs Chronic

  • B. Oleander
  • C. Locoweed ✓
  • D. Cocklebur
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Question 18 - Seasonal Alert

  • B. Oak buds
  • C. Perilla mint ✓
  • D. Cocklebur seedlings
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Question 19 - Look-Alike

  • B. Seed pod shape (inflated vs. flat) ✓
  • C. Leaf number
  • D. Growth location
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Question 20 - Emergency Response

  • B. Give a vinegar drench
  • C. Remove cow from the pasture and call the vet immediately - this is likely cyanide poisoning ✓
  • D. Wait and observe for 24 hours
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Question 21 - Habitat Recognition

  • B. Near streams, ponds, or wet areas ✓
  • C. In cultivated fields
  • D. In barn lots and corrals
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Question 22 - Symptom Recognition

  • B. Copper toxicity
  • C. Polioencephalomalacia (PEM/brain swelling from sulfur) ✓
  • D. Hardware disease
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Question 23 - Prevention Strategy

  • B. Administering cow magnets ✓
  • C. Routine deworming
  • D. Vaccination
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Question 24 - Regional Identification

  • B. Gulf Coast
  • C. West Texas and Trans-Pecos ✓
  • D. Rio Grande Valley
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Question 25 - Comprehensive

  • B. The shin oak grove when budding begins ✓
  • C. The old homesite (chinaberry)
  • D. The shaded woods edge (perilla mint)
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Answer Key

Q#AnswerDifficulty
1AEasy
2BMedium
3CEasy
4BMedium
5CMedium
6BMedium
7CHard
8CEasy
9BMedium
10CHard
11CMedium
12BEasy
13CMedium
14BMedium
15BMedium
16BHard
17CHard
18CMedium
19BHard
20CMedium
21BEasy
22CMedium
23BEasy
24CMedium
25BHard
  • Medium: 13 questions (52%)
  • Hard: 6 questions (24%)
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