Plant ID would be much appreciated

ImoT · Apr 28, 2015

I went foraging today on my way home from work. The only plants I really feel I know are dandilions and sticky weed. All the others sort of look the same or don't look quite like the pictures so i'm just not confident enough to feed them to Winston without double checking.

I think this could be groundsel but i'm not 100% sure;

This looks like some sort of thistle, it was basically flat on the ground. If it is safe for rabbits are the roots also safe?;

This was also low to the ground in with some dandelions;

This was flat on the ground;

Thank you in advance

J&R · Apr 28, 2015

Yes definitely groundsel in first pic, and second is a thistle. Third one looks a bit like coltsfoot but the leaves are usually rounder, did you have any more?

No idea on 4 sorry!

MightyMax · Apr 28, 2015

No 1 looks like sow thistle to me. Is that the same as groundsel?

I found some the other day, but the leaves weren't prickly, so either it wasn't, or it was some other version of the Sonchus family.

I agree no 3 looks like coltsfoot. If it is I am very jealous as I want to find some!!

ImoT · Apr 28, 2015

J&R said:
Yes definitely groundsel in first pic, and second is a thistle. Third one looks a bit like coltsfoot but the leaves are usually rounder, did you have any more?

No idea on 4 sorry!

I'm really glad no 1 is groundsel because I have looooads growing near me so it's good it's bunny safe

Are all thistles safe for rabbits?

I didn't have any more of no 3 (potential coltsfoot) because I was already carrying loads and I wasn't sure if it was bunny safe so didn't want to pick too much! Is coltsfoot bunny safe?

MightyMax said:
No 1 looks like sow thistle to me. Is that the same as groundsel?

I found some the other day, but the leaves weren't prickly, so either it wasn't, or it was some other version of the Sonchus family.

I agree no 3 looks like coltsfoot. If it is I am very jealous as I want to find some!!

I just tried googling and I think sow thistle and groundsel are different…not entirely sure though!

I googled coltsfoot and mine has pointier leaves so i'm not going to feed it to Winston until/unless someone on here can confirm it's definitely safe!!

MightyMax · Apr 28, 2015

ImoT said:
I'm really glad no 1 is groundsel because I have looooads growing near me so it's good it's bunny safe

Are all thistles safe for rabbits?

I just tried googling and I think sow thistle and groundsel are different…not entirely sure though!

I googled coltsfoot and mine has pointier leaves so i'm not going to feed it to Winston until/unless someone on here can confirm it's definitely safe!!

Just looked up in Twigs' book and sow thistle and groundsel do look similar in that they have those clusters of dandelion like flowers.

I think what I have seen is groundsel - similar to sow thistle but without the thistles?

Buns can eat all sorts of prickly stuff - hawthorn, brambles, rose leaves. I don't know how they do it !!!

Sarahbun · Apr 28, 2015

The third one (like MightMax and J&R have already said) looks like Groundsel according to this poster http://www.actionforrabbits.co.uk/safe plants.html
They also do a toxic version / plants to avoid I'll see if I can find it and post it up

Sarahbun · Apr 28, 2015

Sarahbun said:
The third one (like MightMax and J&R have already said) looks like Groundsel according to this poster http://www.actionforrabbits.co.uk/safe plants.html
They also do a toxic version / plants to avoid I'll see if I can find it and post it up

Here's the TOXIC/ PLANTS TO AVOID one http://www.actionforrabbits.co.uk/Plants toxic to rabbits.pdf

Rita · Apr 28, 2015

hi i bought a book from RWAF foraging for rabbits, it is really a great little book it cost about £3.
it has all the photo's and tells you where you will find the greens that are safe. it also will show you the not safe for rabbits, it is really worth a buy.

ImoT · Apr 28, 2015

MightyMax said:
Just looked up in Twigs' book and sow thistle and groundsel do look similar in that they have those clusters of dandelion like flowers.

I think what I have seen is groundsel - similar to sow thistle but without the thistles?

Buns can eat all sorts of prickly stuff - hawthorn, brambles, rose leaves. I don't know how they do it !!!

Yeah I know they can eat prickly things I just wondered if some thistles are safe and some are not! to be honest I don't even know how buns manage to eat sticky weed….it's so sticky!!!!

I am planning on buying twigs book, it's just I don't yet trust that I am good enough to really know what i'm picking even with photos, I sort of need some reassurance!

Sarahbun said:
The third one (like MightMax and J&R have already said) looks like Groundsel according to this poster http://www.actionforrabbits.co.uk/safe plants.html
They also do a toxic version / plants to avoid I'll see if I can find it and post it up

I think you mean first one not third one? I have seen that, I actually have both safe and toxic plants links saved in my bookmarks, it's just I don't trust myself to know 100% that what I pick is safe, apart from things that I know really well like dandelions and sticky weed!

ImoT · Apr 28, 2015

Rita said:
hi i bought a book from RWAF foraging for rabbits, it is really a great little book it cost about £3.
it has all the photo's and tells you where you will find the greens that are safe. it also will show you the not safe for rabbits, it is really worth a buy.

I am planning on getting that book, it's on my list of things to do

That and getting Tamsin's rabbit behaviour book!

MightyMax · Apr 28, 2015

ImoT said:
I am planning on getting that book, it's on my list of things to do That and getting Tamsin's rabbit behaviour book!

There's also a good one by Virginia Richardson called 'Rabbit Nutrition'.

Sarahbun · Apr 28, 2015

I think you mean first one not third one? I have seen that, I actually have both safe and toxic plants links saved in my bookmarks, it's just I don't trust myself to know 100% that what I pick is safe, apart from things that I know really well like dandelions and sticky weed![/QUOTE]
Yes, my bad I meant the 1st one :thumb:

halfpenny · Apr 28, 2015

The first one is groundsel, the last one looks like ragwort.

Santa · Apr 28, 2015

Yes I think the last one looks like ragwort too - very toxic!

MightyMax · Apr 28, 2015

Santa said:
Yes I think the last one looks like ragwort too - very toxic!

Nope, don't think that's Ragwort. Don't know what it is though!

halfpenny · Apr 28, 2015

I'll guarantee its ragwort, it's quite a variable weed and this is at the rosette stage.

MightyMax · Apr 29, 2015

halfpenny said:
I'll guarantee its ragwort, it's quite a variable weed and this is at the rosette stage.

Oh well I'll believe you then! It looks nothing like the ragwort in my lawn, but you are no doubt correct!

keletkezes · Apr 29, 2015

MightyMax said:
Buns can eat all sorts of prickly stuff - hawthorn, brambles, rose leaves. I don't know how they do it !!!

Nettles too... Mine loves nettles but he doesn't like the sting: he runs away but soon comes back! Lopsy eats the thorns off the bramble etc. twigs if he remembers so he doesn't stand on them... I'm sure that's why he has such fluffy feet: thorn defense!

ImoT · Apr 29, 2015

Okay i've put the ragwort suspect on the compost, don't want to take any risks!! Can anyone confirm if the third one is coltsfoot, or should I put that on the compost too just in case?

I've just been drying grass in the oven, it has stunk the whole house out and was such a faff I really don't think drying boring old grass is worth it! I'll stick to weeds in the airing cupboard!

Plant ID would be much appreciated

ImoT

Mama Doe

J&R

Mama Doe

MightyMax

Banned

ImoT

Mama Doe

MightyMax

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Sarahbun

Mama Doe

Sarahbun

Mama Doe

Rita

Warren Scout

ImoT

Mama Doe

ImoT

Mama Doe

MightyMax

Banned

Sarahbun

Mama Doe

halfpenny

Wise Old Thumper

Santa

Wise Old Thumper

MightyMax

Banned

halfpenny

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MightyMax

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keletkezes

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ImoT

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