Help me identify these weeds/plants

3 years ago

I'm in So Cal and I recently adopted a tortoise and the advice for this type of tortoise is to feed it whatever natural grasses and weeds you can find in your yard. Thanks to all the rain we've had, I've got more things growing here than I have ever seen. I've attached photos of the various things I've got growing but I don't know what any of it is.

So I essnetially have two questions for anyone who can help me identify them. What are they? And if you know, would they potentially be dangerous for an animal to ingest? I've numbered them 1-9 to make it easier for anyone that might be able to help. #8 is not a weed but some sort of shrub I've got growing and #9 is some sort of flower that I think is hibiscus.

Featured Answer

iochroma

3 years ago

I have tortoises too.

2, 4, and 5 I recognize as a sort of wild lettuce; my torts don't like them much, but they are safe. The big ones have lots of bitter sap.

I would weed out 1, 3, and 6. Use that space for edibles.

7 is a Brazilian pepper tree, which I consider a weed tree.

8 is a Spirea - not edible, not toxic.

You are lucky to have a Hibiscus (9) - they love the flowers.

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Comments (7)

socks
3 years ago
Yes, i remember our tortoise loved hibiscus too, especially the partially opened buds! Also watermelon and canned green beans. @usc you have a nice selection of weeds for your pet.
uscpsycho thanked socks
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
tortoises have been around for just about forever.. and over all those millions of years.. the vast majority of said time they were free range.. and able to eat whatever they wanted ... with no help from anyone ...

so frankly .... i wouldnt worry too much about denuding your yard of things it wont like to eat.. the odds are.. he just wont eat what doesnt want ...

that said.. a little research never hurt anyone.. so good work on that ...

do get rid of the aggressive weeds because they are aggressive reseeding weeds ... and if you do that.. you may as well plant stuff she likes ...

i suppose this one pet. you will never get winded.. chasing around the yard.. eh?? ... lol .. sounds perfect for a heart patient ....

ken
uscpsycho thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
uscpsycho
Original Author
3 years ago
@iochroma "I would weed out 1, 3, and 6. Use that space for edibles."

You didn't identify 1, 3 and 6 and suggest I weed them out. Is that because they are inedible or dangerous? Or you just don't recognize them? Can pepper tree leaves be fed? I have a lot of mature ones..

@socks I do have a lot of stuff growing right now but this is very unusual. I'm planning a major landscape makeover and prior to the crazy rains I hardly had anything growing. Now the grass and weeds are knee high -- or higher. Perfect timing for the tortoise which I just got a few weeks ago. Prior to the rains my land was pretty barren from lack of attention.

@ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5 My tortoise is a baby, about the size of a golf ball so I provide all of its food in the enclosure. Won't be big enough to be left outside for years. And even then, it will have to be in a protected space to keep predators away, so even then I'll have to provide its food.

If "agressive reseeding" weeds means that they will keep reproducing that is fine. Grass and weeds are the preferred diet for this type of tortoise, so I don't mind until I get my landscaping done.
socks
3 years ago
As for those weeds, "Fight On!"

Your little pet must be so cute.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
1 looks like Erechtites hieracifolia, Burn Weed. 2, 4 and 5 I would say are Sonchus imo, Sow Thistle. Both fine for a tortoise.

4 also shows a Euphorbia, similar to E peplum, but I don’t know what species you get in your area. Not suitable for a tortoise. https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/?plant=308&c=6#.Y-K3V8qnyf0
iochroma
3 years ago
" You didn't identify 1, 3 and 6 and suggest I weed them out. Is that because they are inedible or dangerous? Or you just don't recognize them? Can pepper tree leaves be fed? I have a lot of mature ones.."

Floral pegged the weed IDs.

No to pepper tree; they are toxic.