Edible?

TechnoCheese

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Feb 20, 2016
Messages
4,505
Location (City and/or State)
Lewisville, Texas
These plants are absolutely EVERYWHERE in my yard, and it would be great if I could add them to my enclosure, because it looks a bit barren!1.IMG_1520207415.909767.jpgIMG_1520207426.619388.jpg
2.IMG_1520207472.090425.jpgIMG_1520207497.995909.jpg
3.IMG_1520207522.202715.jpgIMG_1520207537.376834.jpg
4.IMG_1520207558.881991.jpgIMG_1520207571.807379.jpg
5.IMG_1520207593.381104.jpgIMG_1520207610.856862.jpg
6.IMG_1520207633.662378.jpg
7.IMG_1520207649.126633.jpgIMG_1520207661.702319.jpg
8.IMG_1520207677.310049.jpg this one just pops up every year, and I have no idea what it is.
 

Bambam1989

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2017
Messages
3,112
Location (City and/or State)
East Texas
1. Is "sticky weeds" or aka "goose grass" it is edible but I wouldn't feed large amounts because it can be diuretic.
2. The first pic has quite a few plants. I see bittercress, safe. Wild geraniums, safe. The one with big leaves looks like dock, not safe. The second pic is the bittercress.
3. Vetch, high in protein but safe.
4. This may be horseweed. I would not feed. Second opinion suggested.
5. Looks like dock. Do not feed, it's also invasive so rip that out.
6. This may be young dock sprouts. Do not feed. Recommend getting a second opinion.
7. The spikey plant is a thistle. Safe. I also see what looks like chickweed and henbit(tiny purple flowers) both safe.
8. Is this a bush? If so it may be a flowering quince. They are a feed sparingly if at all. Second opinion suggested.
 

TechnoCheese

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Feb 20, 2016
Messages
4,505
Location (City and/or State)
Lewisville, Texas
1. Is "sticky weeds" or aka "goose grass" it is edible but I wouldn't feed large amounts because it can be diuretic.
2. The first pic has quite a few plants. I see bittercress, safe. Wild geraniums, safe. The one with big leaves looks like dock, not safe. The second pic is the bittercress.
3. Vetch, high in protein but safe.
4. This may be horseweed. I would not feed. Second opinion suggested.
5. Looks like dock. Do not feed, it's also invasive so rip that out.
6. This may be young dock sprouts. Do not feed. Recommend getting a second opinion.
7. The spikey plant is a thistle. Safe. I also see what looks like chickweed and henbit(tiny purple flowers) both safe.
8. Is this a bush? If so it may be a flowering quince. They are a feed sparingly if at all. Second opinion suggested.

Thanks, BamBam! With number 8, I’m not entirely sure if it’s a bush or not. All of the flowers are just attached to a stick, but it’s still growing so I’ll have to wait. It’s great that henbit is edible! I thought it wasn’t, but I have so much of it that it should be a great food.
 

Bambam1989

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2017
Messages
3,112
Location (City and/or State)
East Texas
Thanks, BamBam! With number 8, I’m not entirely sure if it’s a bush or not. All of the flowers are just attached to a stick, but it’s still growing so I’ll have to wait. It’s great that henbit is edible! I thought it wasn’t, but I have so much of it that it should be a great food.
Henbit is listed in the feed sparingly list of the Tortoise Table because of a report that they are toxic to horses.
I used to feed them to my rabbits (when I raised them) and never saw issues with it. I imagine they are fine to feed in moderation to a tort.
 

RosemaryDW

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2016
Messages
4,144
Location (City and/or State)
Newport Coast, CA
Agree #4 is horseweed. Not harmful but generally inedible. It grows into a huge, hideous weed; remove it for your yard’s sake!
 

RosemaryDW

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2016
Messages
4,144
Location (City and/or State)
Newport Coast, CA
Do you think I could just stick it in as a sort of hide/carpet/decoration?

Do not recommend, lol. Not sure you can’t understand how hideous it is until you see it full grown but take a look at this. That’s one plant which will grow at least three feet high and then disperse a thousand seeds.

CCA73F29-2864-4D42-9C12-B60E2C60C6DA.jpeg
 

TechnoCheese

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Feb 20, 2016
Messages
4,505
Location (City and/or State)
Lewisville, Texas
Do not recommend, lol. Not sure you can’t understand how hideous it is until you see it full grown but take a look at this. That’s one plant which will grow at least three feet high and then disperse a thousand seeds.

View attachment 232211

Oof, your right, that’s pretty ugly. I don’t think I’ll plant it, lol
 
Top