Pittsburgh weed identification

[Shaif]

Do any of you wonderful folks know if I can feed my Testudo babies this wildflower?

Thanks so much!

 

[RosemaryDW]

We'd need to see pictures of the rest of the plant to make an identification. (Well, some of us would; others would only need this picture!)

Can you get a picture with the stem and leaves showing clearly?

A picture of the plant where it's growing will also help.

It's pretty, whatever it is.

 

[EmilyTheTurtle]

That looks like a dandelion...are these not common in other places?? Theyre everywhere here. But yes, they'll absolutely love it. They love the dandelion leaves a lot as well. They're good for them

 

[RosemaryDW]

Oh haha, if this is a dandelion I'm going to be so embarrassed!

 

[SarahChelonoidis]

It doesn't look like any dandelion flower I've ever seen. I'd say not dandelion. Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) is my guess, but would really need to see more than the flower. If it's coltsfoot, do not feed http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/?plant=381#.WNksLTys-aM

 

[EmilyTheTurtle]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taraxacum

"Early-flowering dandelions may be distinguished from coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) by their basal rosette of leaves, their lack of disc florets, and the absence of scales on the flowering stem."

I guess we need to see the whole thing to be sure. That's what it looked like to me but yea, I could definitely be wrong.

 

[SarahChelonoidis]

As your quote correctly points out, dandelions have only ray florets (http://www.michigannatureguy.com/blog/2015/06/13/dandelion-flowers/) while the OPs flower has ray and disk florets (examples with both http://museum2.utep.edu/archive/plants/DDcomposite.htm & http://blog.growingwithscience.com/2015/04/zinnias-flower-cycles-and-parts/), so it cannot be dandelion.

 

[counting]

80% that's Coltsfoot. Without seeing stem.

 

[Shaif]

I'm so sorry, guys. I was trying to get the pics of the leaves for you. It was silly of me to just post the flower. Again, sorry about that. I hope the following pics are more helpful.

And thank you! Very much for helping this weed-ignorant tort lover!

I have not fed any of these to the babies yet. So no harm done!

 

[Shaif]

P.S.
The stems are white and "hairy," for lack of a better word. In case that is a defining characteristic.

 

[SarahChelonoidis]

Stems look like coltsfoot to me. Not edible.

 

[Shaif]

Thank you! I will keep it away from the torts. Much appreciated!