Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys!

I'm trying to figure out what type of weed/plant this is and if it is edible or not. More to come.

Thanks,
-Kory

These as well. The image on the bottom is a close up pic of the plant in the previous post.

This is a pic of the second type of plant. The leaves are the same as the pic taken on the bricks. It also has the "thistles" as shown in the image on the bricks.

Thanks!
-Kory

Going by the seed heads ( thistles)it looks like something similar to an Erodium. Kin to true Geraniums/ Storksbill Filaree family. Post a few more pics and maybe check at a local nursery for ID
If Erodium, its edible. Be carefull--water hemlock & a few other bad ones look similar

Post a few more pics--flowers if possible.
Also, where are you located at? Is this stuff wild or cultivated?

Regards

David

Thanks for helping out with this. So far there haven't been any flowers on either of the plants. Both of these plants show up in the winter and are gone in the late spring and summer. This stuff is wild and grows very rapidly. I am in Pasadena California area... By Los Angeles. I'll get a few more pics up shortly.

Thanks!
-Kory

Post a few more pics--flowers if possible.
Also, where are you located at? Is this stuff wild or cultivated?

Here are two more pics of one type of plant.

...and here are two pics of the other type of plant.

The one with rounded leaves is some kind of Malva/ Hibiscus type. I bet it has smallish (maybe ugly) flowers held close to the stem/ trunk and rounded squat seedpods. The other is some kind of Erodium- small 5 petaled ( star shaped) purple flowers.
Both of these ( at least close cousins) are growing in my pen-- both are eaten on --maybe not a favorite with all chucks--but at least they all give it a bite now & then.

David

Feed em to your spouse/ neighbors or --- in laws---------- if nothing bad happens within a day or two------------------------------------------ your chucks should be OK!!!!!!!!

dvl

Ha! That's funny... I'm always trying to get my girlfriend to eat more salads like the Chucks, Tortoise, and I!!

It's funny that you say Hibiscus, as there is a giant Hibiscus plant right next to this plant. I'll keep my eyes open for flowers and post some pics if there are any blooms.

I'll go slow with these as well. I'll only try one of the plants on one of the Chucks and see what happens. I would figure that if there is a chance of either posing a threat it would show up rather quickly... Would that be a safe bet?

Anyway, thanks for the help!
-Kory

Now THAT sounds like a good idea!! Actually, I have been feeding my Chucks the Hibiscussy guys for years. While not their favorite thing, they do eat them. Another easy-to-grow plant that they really DO go for in a big way is Sweet Alysum, both white and lavender colors. These seem to have lots of fiber, smell good to me and to them, apparently, and grow easily. They seem to like them almost as much as Dandelions and Nasturtiums. Also, try Lantana as a "mixer" with other stuff. It gets their attention because of its pretty colors! And red honeysuckle. It grows like a weed!

I'd have to say it's mallow. A co-worker is kind of a native plant freak and as land surveyors we see a LOT of weeds.

The first looks like bull mallow: Malva nicaeensis

The second looks like storkbill filaree: Erodium botrys

I've tried both with my chucks, usually mixed in with a lot of other stuff; I'm not sure if they eat them or not.

-Alice

I'm going to chime in and say that the one on the bricks looks like erodium malacoides to me. My father was a veterinarian (mainly for large animals) and he always said that it made excellent forage for sheep. I imagine that it's equally good for chucks. Link to pic is attached.
Erodium malacoides pic

The rounder leaf one is PIGWEED it is harmless , has been known to cause chicken eggs to have pink shells.
The one with the spikes that starts growing in a round patch is PURPLE THREE AWN....very nutritious !
Generaly chucks wont eat the pigweed , but they love the purple three awn......Tortoises love it ! Feed away , it is NOT poisonous !

I made a mistake...It is RED STEM FILLAREE....not purple three awn. Got confused over another post on a different forum.
It is just as stated in my previous post , harmless and very nutritious for chuckwallas.