Arundo donax - Giant cane, Carrizo, Arundo, Spanish cane, Colorado River Reed, Wild cane, and Giant

[Cherepakha]

Hi guys!

So, here in Portugal, we are surrounded by these plants (yay, flora). Lately I've learned that my Russian can eat the leaves of corn plants (yay!). Then I started noticing that there aren't many 'wild' zea mays plants, but LOTS that look like them, which I later discovered to be the Arundo donax. So, I started looking up if Russians can eat these. Other than now knowing they grow in their natural habitat, I haven't actually been able to discover if they can eat them!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arundo_donax

Does anybody here know?
My usual bibles don't have an answer and they are difficult to contact (I have to create a Yahoo account for one, no thanks).

http://russiantortoise.net/edible_plants.htm
http://www.tortoiselady.co.uk/page6.htm

This one I have been able to contact and am currently waiting for a reply:
http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/site/plants_19.asp

I'll share the reply here if anybody else is interested in knowing if tortoises can eat them.

 

[tortadise]

I would say that cane and corn is not toxic but they wouldn't eat it, nor does it really pose, much of a source of nutrients to a tortoise. Especially for a Russian. I'd stick with broad leaf weeds and grasses. Dandelion, chicory, thistles, Bermuda, buffalo, couch, and st.Augustine grasses.

 

[Cherepakha]

Hello Kelly, thank you for your reply!

I've recently found some chicory and pricly sow thistle in our neighbourhood, the other plants don't seem to grow in my area . I have malva, hibiscus, agave, aloe vera, petunias, pelargonium and sinningia at home. Sometimes I fead her cabbage, brocoli, a slice of carrot. But I'm always looking for more things to mix up her diet.
Therefore I am looking at plants in our neighbourhood (that's how I came by the thistle and chicory). Was really hoping this plant would be useful for her diet and shade in an outdoor terrarium, as I can almost pick them right outside our door.

 

[Cherepakha]

Here is the answer from the tortoisetable.com:

"I've looked up Arundo donax and although it is a member of the Poaceae family, which has many edible species, I think I might stay clear of this one. One source I read said that the plant contains fairly high levels of DMT (Dimethyltryptamine), which can cross the blood-brain barrier in humans and act as a powerful hallucinogenic (lol -- so I'm surprised that some people aren't smoking it!). I found another source that said the plant was thought to be very toxic, but that was based on a misunderstanding of the plant's chemistry. All of the research of course is geared to human consumption, but in the absence of any research involving the plant and reptiles, I think it's best to err on the side of caution and not feed it to your tortoise (although I doubt that a few accidental nibbles would do any harm)."

They are going to make an entry for it on their website

 

[Star-of-India]

Zea mays doesn't grow wild anywhere. It was developed by the Native Americans of Mexico and Central America from a wild grass known as teosinte. Corn, or maize as the Brits prefer, doesn't release its kernels well and so it doesn't go feral well. Hope that's not too off topic.

 

[tortadise]

Hello Kelly, thank you for your reply!

I've recently found some chicory and pricly sow thistle in our neighbourhood, the other plants don't seem to grow in my area . I have malva, hibiscus, agave, aloe vera, petunias, pelargonium and sinningia at home. Sometimes I fead her cabbage, brocoli, a slice of carrot. But I'm always looking for more things to mix up her diet.
Therefore I am looking at plants in our neighbourhood (that's how I came by the thistle and chicory). Was really hoping this plant would be useful for her diet and shade in an outdoor terrarium, as I can almost pick them right outside our door.

Stay away from feeding cabbage and broccoli, they're high in goitonoids(spelling is probably off) they can do some damage to a tortoise over time.

Can you get dandelions or endive?