Hi everyone,

I have these weeds in abundance in my garden and wondered if anyone knows what they are and are they safe?

Pebble will be in an outdoor table so wont be able to get them if they arent!

Thanx

Nik x

Hi Nik,

I've been trying to figure out what that first plant is (the first two photos), and I'm still not sure as there are quite a few plants that look like it. Hopefully someone will come on who knows what it is, and if it is safe, but in the meantime I wouldn't feed it to torts.
The second two photos (the ones with the yellow flowers) show wood avens
(geum urbanum), and although it is not toxic to tortoises, it is high in tannins so best to feed sparingly.

Nina

Hi Nik

Any chance of sending a picture of a single leaf of the plant in the first 2 pictures.  A close up shot of it on a white background might help us to identify it for you.  I take it there aren't any flowers otherwise a picture of them too would be helpful.  Does it grow in a clump like a dandelion and what are the roots like ?

Helen

Hi,

yes it does grow in a clump like dandelions and it doesnt have any flowers on it, I'm not sure what the roots look like because like a dandelion its a bugger to try and pull up!

This weed isn't in my book .  There are several look a likes but not an exact copy; so I'll keep looking for you.

Helen

Well, I've been mulling over this mystery weed and combing my wild flower books all day, and I still can't decide what it is. It looks remotely like it could be part of the ragwort family (although it isn't exactly like any of the ragworts that I can see). Until we get a definite ID for it, I would certainly not let your tortoises near it, as if by some chance it is part of the ragwort group of plants they are incredibly toxic. Hopefully we'll come up with a definite ID soon!

Nina

Thanx for checking guys, I havent been able to ID it either but Pebble wont be going near it anyway!

Nik x

Hi, i have this weed growing in my garden also. No idea what it is - it never has any flowers, just masses of leaves. The leaves all grow from a single fat root, and the way the leaves grow from the root reminds me a lot of a turnip. Its a bugger to get rid of as all the leaves come off easily when pulled, leaving the turnipy looking root in the ground! I dont give it to my torts, and they dont eat it when outside, but i ate some once myself and it didnt kill me! Lol. Rachael

Hi Rachael, do you have a photo of it growing in situ we could have a look at?

Regards Vivienne

Hi

This looks like Tansy Ragwort

Deb