new zealand weeds - are they safe food?

[alocin7]

Hello,

I have looked through heaps of posts and articles about safe weeds to feed, but as the information comes mostly out of UK or US I cant identify them easily, or maybe we have different names for them. Heres some photos of weeds around our section - can anyone tell me what they are and if they are safe to feed to tortoises?

 

[Yelloweyed]

Picture 4 - shamrock or oxalis

 

[alocin7]

Yikes, thanks! Heres another:

 

[Yvonne G]

The first two pictures almost look like dichondra, however dichondra doesn't grow like that. ???

The next one looks like young chickweed - ok to feed.

The fourth picture is oxalis regnellii - no not feed.

The fifth picture might be black medic - ok to feed, but I'm not sure that's what it is.

Don't know the 6th picture

The last picture sort of looks like wild carrot, but ???

 

[Yvonne G]

The added picture looks similar to ground ivy/creeping charlie - do not feed

 

[shazaberry]

Hey where in nz are u from?

 

[alocin7]

Hey where in nz are u from?

Auckland! And you?

 

[Iochroma]

1, 2 & 6 look like a "cress" - these are very likely the same European species we see here in the U.S., and everywhere in the temperate zones. OK in moderation.
3 & 5 are Euphorbias - avoid
4 is unmistakable as an Oxalis
6 is less clear, but may be in the Fumariaceae - best avoided if so.
The last is Glechoma - also avoid.

 

[Speed bump]

Hi this is "speed bump" I'm In Ashburton Nz, good to know other members in nz. Regards

 

[Yvonne G]

@Iochroma

1, 2 & 6 look like a "cress" - these are very likely the same European species we see here in the U.S., and everywhere in the temperate zones. OK in moderation.
3 & 5 are Euphorbias - avoid
4 is unmistakable as an Oxalis
6 is less clear, but may be in the Fumariaceae - best avoided if so.
The last is Glechoma - also avoid.

You are much better educated in plant identification than I, but I really have to question the euphorbia i.d.s I don't see any euphorbias in those pictures. 3 looks like chickweed and I'm sure even if it isn't, it doesn't bleed a milky sap. And I thought I might have been wrong i.d.ing 5 as black medic, but it really doesn't look like euphorbia either???

 

[Yvonne G]

Yikes, thanks! Heres another: View attachment 170220

I LOVE this little plant. I occasionally see it pop up here or there on my property and I try to encourage it because it is so beautiful. The tiny snapdragon-like flowers are so dainty. I wish I knew the name of it so I could try to find it in a nursery. I looked at images of glechoma, but it's not the same plant at all.

 

[Iochroma]

@Iochroma



You are much better educated in plant identification than I, but I really have to question the euphorbia i.d.s I don't see any euphorbias in those pictures. 3 looks like chickweed and I'm sure even if it isn't, it doesn't bleed a milky sap. And I thought I might have been wrong i.d.ing 5 as black medic, but it really doesn't look like euphorbia either???

3 is a "spurge" - an upright weedy Euphorbia. Ask tho OP if it bleeds milky sap. Note there are also Euphorbia that do not have milky sap.
Chickweed has opposite leaves, so not that.
5 has unmistakably clear flower structures that are the hallmark of this kind of weedy Euphorbia; probably the same sp. as 3.

 

[Yvonne G]

Thank you.