Plant ID PLease

[tortoiselover]

I have this growing in my outdoor enclosure and they seam to like it and eat it but before I let them eat alot of it I thought I would run it past you guys.

There are no flowers that form and it starts in a center root and spreads out in a circular pattern. My mom calls it "water weed" but it does not grow in the water and google image search returns a bunch of... well... weed... lol

 

[turtle crazy]

It looks like splurge to me, break off some and see if milky fluid comes out. I dont know if its edible.

 

[tortoiselover]

yes milky fluid does come out when broken off

 

[CoryCrandall]

I agree that is likely spurge. Either Spotted Spurge or Creeping Spurge...

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/spotted_spurge.html

The descriptions on this site quotes "Spurges have a milky, sticky sap that can cause contact dermatitis in humans and animals. Some spurge species, if eaten, can cause mild to severe digestive tract irrigation, and even death on rare occasions. It is a host for fungal diseases and attracts pests that damage crops."

Has any one had any experience with this weed? Digestive tract irritation in mammals does not always apply to herbavoracious reptiles. I have a 7" Sully and we had to move to a new rental property that has quite a lot of this Spurge. I was hoping to let Tiny Tim have his way with the weed but I'm not sure of the risk.

 

[Yvonne G]

I've heard from quite a few desert tortoise keepers who say their desert tortoises love spurge.

 

[Angi]

Does it look like a suculent. If so I have it and have been feeding it.
Just looked it up. that is not what my torts eat, but it does grow on my yard. I have beed afraid to give it to Bob abd Shelbi