New owner help

[Wilburs_mummy]

Hello. We got our first tortoise (Wilbur) at the weekend. I’ve been out checking out the weeds in the garden and I can’t seem to identify one. Would anyone happen to know what it is please?

[Nina]

That looks very much like a healthy clump of Ragwort to me. Here is our entry for Ragwort, https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... LdcCKR7m9s which includes Oxford Ragwort, which is a more delicate plant, but look at the 4th picture along along in the first row of small photos, and you can see a plant that looks very like yours. This is a seriously toxic plant (every year several horses die from eating it), so you should dig it up and get rid of it, as it should never be within the reach of animals. Sorry for the bad news -- those frilly leaves are quite pretty, aren't they?

Nina

[Wilburs_mummy]

Oh wow thank you for letting me know! I’ll get rid of it tomorrow. It’s growing out of what’s meant to be the path so won’t be too difficult. Could I ask for one more please? I’ve managed to I’d most of the weeds in my very over grown garden but there were two I couldn’t find. Here is the second....

[lin]

Hiya.
I think this is one of the Cranesbill Geraniums. Can you hook at our entry and see what you think. You will find it here. https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... nt=103&c=6
If you can't be sure will you take another photo showing the leaf joined to the stalk, like growing from the side.

Lin

[Wilburs_mummy]

Thank you Lin, it does look like that although I’ve never noticed it before so not sure what the flowers are usually like. I’ll try to get a better picture tomorrow. Thank you for your help x

[lin]

Helping is no problem Wilburs_mummy, its our pleasure.

Lin

[Wilburs_mummy]

Morning. I’ve taken a better picture and found 2 weeds that I can’t seem to find. I’m sure having constant plant pictures posted is infuriating but I promise I did look first .

Vicky

[Wilburs_mummy]

Oops only one of the unknowns loaded

Also can he eat normal grass from the garden?

The whole feeding him from the garden makes me so nervous but I do want to do the best for him

Vicky

[Nina]

Hi Vicky,

LOL, no it's not irritating at all -- that's what we're here for! But what does make it easier for us is if you send us photos of a particular view to help us ID Plants. It is great that you have put your ID guesses next to the plants as that helps us to easily refer to a photo when giving IDs, but identifying a plant from an isolated leaf that has been picked and put on a piece of paper is super difficult, as part of the whole ID process not just the look of the leaf itself, but how that leaf comes off the stem, how the plant comes out of the ground (is it a rosette, are the single stems or one main stem, etc.). So the best photos to send us is of the plant growing in situ, with addition close-ups of leaves, flowers and seed heads if there are any. Saying that, you've picked enough of some of your plants for us to ID them, so here are my best guesses.

1st photo of the single leaf - very difficult and I can't ID it from that, but Lin might be able to.
2nd photo (and thanks for putting your guess on it. You were absolutely right -- Speedwell.
3rd photo -- another correct ID -- Cranesbill Geranium. We'll be asking you to join our ID team next!
4th photo -- difficult to say from a single leaf, but most likely either one of the Dandelion family or Hawksbeard family (possibly one of the Hawkweeds but I don't think so.

Nina

[Wilburs_mummy]

Haha I can’t take any credit for the cranesbill as Lin asked for a better pic last night suggesting it may be that.

Sorry, I have now risked the wrath of stinging nettles and spiders and got what I hope are decent photos of the actual plant. My garden is terribly unkept (a tortoise paradise I’m sure)! Unfortunately even with my glasses photos on my phone are becoming increasingly harder to work out!

I am home though so can pop outside as many times as needed

[Wilburs_mummy]

Oh I think this one might be a bit better of the one without the red stem

[Wilburs_mummy]

And this is the red stem one from higher up

[lin]

Hi Vicky.

It is great and so much easier for us if you put the numbers alongside the photos

Pic 1 with the ?. Thats Bristly Ox Tongue. Our entry has some pretty poor photos so I have nade a mental note to renew then for better ones.
https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... ant=64&c=6. You also have Bristly Ox Tongue on the other photos sent in.

I need to ask if the middle message of the three photos that was posted at 11:09 that has got two Bristley Ox Tongue either side...is that middle photo the same plant or different?. If its different then I would say its Wild Lettuce. Again I have to ask you to check out our entry for that especially the image number 4 of 6. https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... nt=574&c=6. I think it looks exactly like your leaves in the photo.

I think those two are the ones that Nina means, but if not then do let us know.
Lin

[Wilburs_mummy]

Thanks Lin, having looked back it’s all very muddled and confused (mornings are not my best times for making sense) . I’ll have a look at those you’ve suggested.

I went for a lovely walk in the southbdowns today and id’d something all by myself after looking through your database - dead nettle. So I climbed into the middle of them and picked some for Wilbur. My friend was very impressed with my weed knowledge