The Tortoise Table

Can anyone help identify this? I have it growing everywhere here in NorthEast USA. Thank you!

Hi Yahtzdog (lol, is their an easier name i can call you by?)

Thanks for the photos. This is Garlic Mustard and can be fed, so well done for finding it. Here is our entry for it:
https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... rkY_cB7m9s (note the caution about feeding too many plants in the brassica family at the same time).

Best wishes,
Nina

Nina -

You can call me Yahtz. Ha ha. Note my real name, just nickname.

I have a ton of Garlic Mustard growing around here. Thank you for helping me identify.

So if I understand correctly, you rare not supposed to feed more than one type of brassica per feeding/day?

Hi Yahtz (that's much easier, thanks),

Yes, that is the general idea. It wouldn't be catastrophic if two goitrogenic plants were fed in the same meal, but it's a guideline designed to avoid increasing the percentage of goitrogenic plants in the diet. So just be aware of it, but no need to obsess (if you see what I mean ).

Nina

A few more okay for help with identifying? I was on a hike today and found these...

Thank you!

Hi Yahtz.

Your wildflower with white flowers on is called Cardamine diphylla, Two Leaved Toothwort and what we call a Cuckoo Flower. Its ok in moderation but because it is from the brassica family it is not advisable to feed to much. Here is our link but be aware of the Goitergen note - https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... nt=386&c=6

The pretty flower with the three red petals is a Red Trillium, Trillium erectum and commonly named Wake Robin. It does contain saponins that are a group of steroid glycosides which are capable of causing anti-nutritional effects. Trillium has also been known to create problems with livestock and is on the list of toxic to cats and dogs. So this is a plant that we would advise against feeding to a tortoise.

Your last one with the yellow flowers is Viola pubescens and although we do not have that particular species in our database we do have other from the voila family and the same crules would apply. Perfectly safe to feed. Here is our entry -- https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... nt=227&c=6

Remember to check out the rules about taking wild flowers in the States though. Wouldnt want you getting in trouble, and if there is anything else we can do just get back to us.

Lin

Thank you Lin! I appreciate your help with this. I figure in time, I will become more fluent in flower/weed identification.
Do you have any books that offer help with identification (specifically those grown in the USA)?

-Yahtz

These are near my yard. Any idea what they are?

a couple more...

This one is Dock
https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... nt=134&c=6
Just looking at your others now.

Lin

Yahtzdog wrote:
> These are near my yard. Any idea what they are?

Your first photo is Black Bryony. We have not got our entry up for this one yet but it is a no feed.

The 2nd with the yellow flower is Cinquefoil, a moderate feed - https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... nt=510&c=6

The purple one is Vinca a no feed - https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/pla ... nt=270&c=5

Hope that is ok for you.

Lin