Help me id plant

[Slasen]

My wife told my daughter that this was chickweed which is on the edible list but I don't think it is. Zorba ate some on saturday and is still fine but I would like to identify to know if its good for zorba or not.

 

[Yvonne G]

It's kinda' hard to tell because the picture is blurry, but it's NOT chickweed. My guess would be spotted spurge. Its that bane of my existence! The horses won't eat the grass if its got spurge growing in it and I'm continually spraying and pulling it up.

However, my desert tortoises don't seem to care that its a weed. They eat it just fine! Go figure.

http://uuhsc.utah.edu/poison/plants/index.cfm?action=main.ViewPlant&plant_id=9

Yvonne

 

[Slasen]

yes that's what it is spotted spurge it grows on our gravel drive. Yes its very hard to kill I have tried the professional weed control spray that is supposed to last 3 months it may kill it off for a week or so then its right back. Do you think it ok for a Sulcata baby to eat it?

Thanks, Sean

 

[Yvonne G]

I think its high in oxalates, so they shouldn't eat too much of it.

Yvonne

 

[Crazy1]

Here is what they say http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Horticulture/Euphorbia_maculata about how to control it.
Control
Early action is crucial with this weed because of the short period between germination and the setting of seeds. The seeds will germinate in wood and stone mulches as well.

Mowing: Ineffective due to the low height.
Cultivation: Effective, especially for young plants.
Pulling: Plants pull easily, as they do not root at the node. They should always be put immediately into a container to prevent seed dispersal.
Flame: Very effective, and has the added benefit of killing the seeds.
Disposal: This plant should only be composted in hot piles, due the copious seeds.

 

[terracolson]

I have read that its edible for some animals but not all. It is all over my yard here in sac and my turtles walk over it. They dont care much for it. I try to pull it when it clumps up in a rea. But small patches i leave.

 

[Stephanie Logan]

OMG, that looks exactly like Taco's favorite tortoise treat! In fact, it is the ONLY weed or grass she will eat, and she loves it! Here in Colorado it grows on hard dirt and in rock beds and between sidewalk and gutter sections. It is a hearty weed that reappears no matter how hard you try to control it. I've stopped controlling it and started letting it grow so that Taco has something to munch on. Now I will look up "spotted spurge" (though there are no spots on the stuff that grows here) to see if I can get a positive ID.

 

[Crazy1]

http://www.msuturfweeds.net/details/_/prostrate_spurge_38/

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/A_Wikimanual_of_Gardening/Euphorbia_maculata

It is a skin irritant. Yvonne listed a nice site also.

 

[Slasen]

Thanks everyone for the help