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Plant ID please

Posted: 26 Jun 2018, 11:36
by Jo1211
Just wondering if any of these are safe for my horsfield please

Re: Plant ID please

Posted: 26 Jun 2018, 15:41
by lin
I am wondering if the first shrub might be an Abelia, although it is not a sure bet so I would like another photo from a distence Jo, and maybe one when buds of even dead flowers are visible.

The one with the white flowers on if what we call an umbel and because most are unfeedable for tortoises we would also say the same for this one.

Lin

Re: Plant ID please

Posted: 26 Jun 2018, 16:37
by Nina
I agree with Lin about the second photo with the white flowers. Unless we can get really good photos of the leaves and the whole plant I would steer clear of it because most of the umbel plants are not good and some are very poisonous, so it's not worth the risk.

I didn't think the first plant looked like a shrub, but I could well be wrong. Can you tell me if those are lots of individual plants coming up out of the ground or are they all part of one plant? Are the stems soft or woody? They look to me like Himalayan Balsam or one of that family. Here is our entry: https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... zJb8yAnaM8 The first two photos don't look like yours as they show a variety with long thin leaves, but look at the other photos. The leaves are more like yours and they have very distinctive flowers and especially distinctive seed heads which are pointed and when they are ripe if you touch the point the seedhead explodes, scattering the seeds over a wide area.
Here is a good close-up of the leaves (are they anything like yours?) http://totallywilduk.co.uk/cooking/plan ... an-balsam/

Do you have any flowers or seed heads on your plant? You can also Google himalayan balsam and look at images to see more photos. I could well be wrong, but there was just something about the arrangement of leaves that reminded me of one of the Balsams. It is a family with over 1,000 species in it, that also includes Busy Lizzies.

Nina

Re: Plant ID please

Posted: 26 Jun 2018, 19:51
by Jo1211
Hi Lin and Nina

Thanks for your replies. The second plant is lots of separate stems making up the plant all together in a bush type plant.
The plants are growing in a local nature reserve where I walk my dogs and are not treated with pesticides or any chemicals.

Re: Plant ID please

Posted: 26 Jun 2018, 19:56
by Jo1211
The stems on the 2nd plant are not woody and I couldn’t see any flowers or buds on it.

I also have 2 more I am unsure of though I think the one with purple flowers on could be some sort of thistle?

Re: Plant ID please

Posted: 26 Jun 2018, 20:00
by Jo1211
Sorry forgot to attach on last post

Re: Plant ID please

Posted: 26 Jun 2018, 20:04
by Jo1211
Sorry I will attach correct picture now

Re: Plant ID please

Posted: 26 Jun 2018, 20:49
by lin
Hi Jo.
No worries.
Your plant with the purple flower is indeed thistle and fine for your tortoise diet.

Lin

Re: Plant ID please

Posted: 26 Jun 2018, 20:57
by Nina
Hi Jo,

Just checking --you say that the stems aren't woody -- but you said they form a bush, and bushes would have woody stems. Is there one base to the plant and all the stems come from that one base, or are they separate stems each coming out of the ground?
Also, you said you had two more you were unsure of, and posted 2 pics -- one of them was the thistle that Lin identified, but the other is another photo of the same plant that we are trying to ID -- should that have been a dfferent plant? I would say to go back in a week or so and there will almost certainly be flowers on that plant and that would tell us if it is definitely one of the balsams or not. Sorry for so many questions!

Cheers,
Nina

Re: Plant ID please

Posted: 27 Jun 2018, 00:32
by Jo1211
Thanks both for your help. I will go back and take another look at the plant to check again about the stems etc
The other plant I think should be attached now [attachment=0]1F8E2C38-C564-4165-ACBE-5B09BDCB8ACB.jpeg[/attachment]

Re: Plant ID please

Posted: 27 Jun 2018, 10:23
by Nina
Hi Jo,

I'm having a senior moment. That plant looks so familiar but I can't recall what it is. When Lin is up and about I'll bet she will know.

Nina

Re: Plant ID please

Posted: 27 Jun 2018, 16:57
by lin
Hi Jo.
Sorry for the delat but I hadnt seen this. Nina just gave me a nudge.

This is Mugwort (https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... nt=502&c=6) and a no feed.

Lin

Re: Plant ID please

Posted: 27 Jun 2018, 20:53
by Jo1211
Thanks Nina and Lin once again for your expert knowledge on plants/weeds .

Re: Plant ID please

Posted: 28 Jun 2018, 10:46
by Jo1211
Hi Nina

I’ve taken a further few pictures of the plant I was asking about the other day. I seemed to find it more in single shoots today. I have taken pictures of the stem and buds

Re: Plant ID please

Posted: 28 Jun 2018, 10:48
by Jo1211
Hopefully the bud one

Re: Plant ID please

Posted: 28 Jun 2018, 10:57
by Jo1211
I’ve also found these in a friends garden. are they a safe feed?

TIA

Re: Plant ID please

Posted: 28 Jun 2018, 11:15
by lin
Hi Jo
Nina and I have had a chat this morning and are leaning towards this being Himalayian Balsam (https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... t=519&c=11) But until the buds get a bit bigger we cannot be 100% sure so can you compare when they open or even have a look at the buds in the entry to see if they are the same as any of yours.
If it is that then its a no feed anyway. If it is not then please do send in a photo of the buds in another couple of days.

Lin

Jo1211 wrote:
> Hopefully the bud one

Re: Plant ID please

Posted: 28 Jun 2018, 11:24
by lin
The ones with the pink flowers are a willowherb Jo. Ok in moderation -- https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... nt=360&c=6

The one with the yellow flower is a brassica and again feed only in moderation. One of the many mustards that can be found growing but beware because if the pod pops you will have millions to comtend with - lol.

Lin



Jo1211 wrote:
> I’ve also found these in a friends garden. are they a safe feed?
>
> TIA