Portulaca

[JenC]

Does anyone know if Portulaca is ok to feed? I looked on Tortoise Table and didn’t see it listed. It’s some type of flowering ice plant.

 

[Maro2Bear]

If you dig a bit deeper..Portulaca is also called Moss Rose. TT has this on Moss Rose..

• Common Name: Moss Rose
• Latin Name: Portulaca grandiflora
• Family Name: Portulacaceae

The Moss Rose contains a high level of oxalates (up to 9%), and when consumed in large quantities has been known to cause acute oxalate poisoning, so this is a plant to avoid.

The flowers of Moss Rose come in all colours and in both single and double forms, and although the most common species have small, needle-like succulent leaves, the 'Yubi' series has broader flatter leaves.

 

[Tom]

Does anyone know if Portulaca is ok to feed? I looked on Tortoise Table and didn’t see it listed. It’s some type of flowering ice plant.

Portulaca afra is also known as elephant bush. The Swahili translation into English is "tortoise food". This is one of the natural foods of tortoises that occur where it occurs. Leopard tortoises, for one.

It has recently come to light that tortoise don't process oxalates the way some other animals do. I've been feeding small amounts of P. afra to my tortoises of all species for years.