Is this lambs ear?

[Chasen]

Or in that family and safe to feed?

 

[TOOTSIESMOM]

Looks like spearmint to me. Did you try smelling it. If it is, I believe it is safe.

 

[Chasen]

Looks like spearmint to me. Did you try smelling it. If it is, I believe it is safe.

Silly me. I didn't think to smell it.

 

[RosemaryDW]

Not lambs quarters. It looks like a dead nettle to me, with those purple-pink flowers.

 

[Chasen]

Not lambs quarters. It looks like a dead nettle to me, with those purple-pink flowers.

It sure does look like that. Yay, one more thing I've found to collect for feeding. Thanx

 

[Yvonne G]

Or in that family and safe to feed?

View attachment 262219 View attachment 262220 View attachment 262221

There are three different weeds/wildflowers that appear similar, some are edible, some aren't.

creeping charlie - toxic:

dead nettle - edible:

hen bit - toxic:

Your picture is not any kind of mint.

 

[RosemaryDW]

@Yvonne G, the Tortoise Table allows henbit in small amounts. Ugh, I hate when sites show two different things about the same plant!

Do we have experience with it in this forum where tortoises have been harmed by henbit?

 

[Yvonne G]

@Yvonne G, the Tortoise Table allows henbit in small amounts. Ugh, I hate when sites show two different things about the same plant!

Do we have experience with it in this forum where tortoises have been harmed by henbit?

I don't remember where I took my info from for the sub forum thread "Pictures of common plants edible and non" but the info I copied says, "henbit - causes 'staggers' in foraging mammals (a condition that usually arises from consuming mycotoxins), is toxic to birds, but safe for humans. I would avoid it if possible" I think because it is toxic to birds, I would also not give it to tortoises.

 

[RosemaryDW]

Makes sense. We don’t have it in my area so I’m not familiar with it.

Thank you.

 

[Chasen]

There are three different weeds/wildflowers that appear similar, some are edible, some aren't.

creeping charlie - toxic:

dead nettle - edible:

hen bit - toxic:

Your picture is not any kind of mint.

Thanx for the wisdom. I don't think the one I posted is any of the above, but if there's any question, I won't feed.

 

[RosemaryDW]

I still think it’s a dead nettle or awfully close to it but certainly you should not feed it if you don’t feel comfortable.

 

[Chasen]

So, plantsnap identified this as Mexican Hedgenettle.

 

[RosemaryDW]

I don’t believe that specific nettle is native your area but there are about fifty different kinds so if not that one, a relative

I’d feed it to my Russian but I am a very casual feeder.

 

[Chasen]

I don’t believe that specific nettle is native your area but there are about fifty different kinds so if not that one, a relative

I’d feed it to my Russian but I am a very casual feeder.

What does "casual feeder" mean?

 

[RosemaryDW]

What does "casual feeder" mean?

It means that I’m open to feeding things that are a “No” on the Tortoise Table or that haven’t been fed by others on this forum, if I know enough about the plant or plant family from other sources. For example, the plant above is from a plant family that is generally safe. Not everything in it tastes good but it’s generally safe. So I would offer it.

There are plants I consider completely off limits but not many. And some I don’t know anything about, like grasses, which my tortoise doesn’t eat.

I have a little bit of knowledge about plants and am pretty good at looking up what I don’t know. I’ve also got a wild caught Russian who is open to all kinds of foods.

Other owners will not feed foods they aren’t entirely sure of or that the Tortoise Table says “No” to and that’s fine. Owners need to decide for themselves what is and isn’t appropriate.