The common name is derived from the flower stems, which curl over at the top in a manner reminiscent of the head of a fiddle.

The seeds and foliage of fiddlenecks are poisonous to livestock, particularly cattle, because they contain alkaloids and high concentrations of nitrates.

[2] The sharp hairs of the plants can cause skin irritation in humans.

However, the shoots, seeds or leaves of several species were used as food by Native Americans, and the plant also had some medicinal uses.

To decide which species a particular specimen belongs to, therefore, is likely to require a detailed examination with an identification key in hand.