Parsnip

• Common Name: Parsnip
• Latin Name: Pastinaca sativa
• Family Name: Apiaceae/Umbelliferae

Like many members of the Apiaceae family, the Parsnip contains furanocoumarin, a chemical that causes skin redness, burning and blisters on the skin of people (and also livestock) who have eaten or handled the leaves and whose skin is subsequently exposed to sunlight.  Although the skin of reptiles is different to that of mammals, we do not know the consequences for tortoises if they eat plants containing coumarins, and so we do not advise feeding either the root (the parsnip) or the leaves of this plant to your tortoise, although no great harm will come if some is accidentally nibbled.