Danny Lenders, age 14, of Denton, Tax., for his question:

WHO NAMED THE LOCOWEED?

Locoweed is a name given to a number of plants that are closely related the the pea family. It is possible for these plants to poison horses, cattle, sheep and goats. The name comes from the Spanish word for "crazy." The plant was named by the pioneers who opened the western part of North America.

Locoweed is a common range plant. There actually are three well known varieties: the white, blue and purple locoweed.

White locoweed grows on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains and on the dry plains from Mexico northward. The blue grows in all parts of the Southwest while the purple locoweed is common in South Dakota, Wyoming and southward to Texas. The purple type affects only horses.

Animals that eat locoweed become ill. They become startled easily and drag their legs as they walk. They also become listless. Brain damage and death can come if the animals eat too much of the poisonous plants.

When early symptoms of poisoning are seen, recovery can come quickly if the animals are kept away from the locoweed.