Ok, what is this?

[Chucky]

Before I cut these down and toss them, I was wondering what they are and if they would be any good for my Sulcatas or could they be bad for them?

 

[Yvonne G]

Milkweed. My Russians love them. But I have to bend them down and step on them to break the stem and put the plant on ground level for the tortoises.

Yvonne

 

[Chucky]

Thanks Yvonne, I've got a whole yard full of them so it should last awhile.

---

Yvonne,

I was just looking up the nutritional values of Milkweed and found this site saying that it is poisonous.

http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/poison/plants/ppmilkw.htm

 

[Flametorch]

well milkweed is usually poisonous for most animals, and the only thing that really eats it are those catepillars. I haven't seen milkweed on any edibles lists. So if you really don't mind doing all that research over milkweed, I would just toss it, why bother ya know?

 

[Itort]

Hate to disagree with Yvonne but it's hawkbit. All my torts love it and it's one of the summer staples.

 

[Chucky]

Hate to disagree with Yvonne but it's hawkbit. All my torts love it and it's one of the summer staples.

Well, geesh! I've also been told this is Sowthistle which is ok for torts.

I sure hope it's hawkbit or sowthistle because my Sulcatas ate it today.

 

[Itort]

Sowthisle is another name for this, it is related to dandelions.

 

[Crazy1]

Ok here is my two cents worth.
I have to disagree with all of you. I believe it is prickly lettuce. I have it in my yard too and I have never seen any of my torts eat it Greeks or DT. However they say other lettuces came from this. Check out these photos and see if this isn’t what you have.
prickly lettuce: (three sites)
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?where-taxon=Lactuca+serriola

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...mIy1CA&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=2&ct=image

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/L/W-CO-LSER-MP.001.html

Here are some pics of the others suggested.
Milkthistle: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/S/W-CO-SMAR-MP.002.html
Hawkbit: http://www.tlady.clara.net/edible/leon.htm
sow-thistle: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/S/W-CO-SOLE-MP.005.html
Smooth Sow-thistle: http://www.tlady.clara.net/edible/sonchus.htm
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicweeds/weed_information/weed.php?id=54
Prickly or Rough Sow-thistle:
http://www.organicgardening.org.uk/...74&PHPSESSID=ac24843267f2c743d7891ec4f7c80fb0

Let me know what you think.

 

[Chucky]

Well, that looks closer to what I have but there still is a difference. The leaves on mine are not as pointy as those but it could be a variant of it.

 

[Crazy1]

Is there a horticulturist or a college that teaches horticulture close to you that you could take it too? They may be able to identify it. There seems to be quite a lot that are very close to your picture. (shoot I thought for sure I had it) Have you ever seen them flower?

 

[Chucky]

I emailed a college that has been doing a study and attached some pics. Let's see if they answer. I'm sure they have flowered before but I have so many different weeds growing around I can't remember if they were yellow, purple or whatever but I will pay attention this time. I usually just cut them down and toss them.

 

[Crazy1]

I do the same, just cut them down- hate the spikes. But it seems the flowers usually give a much better clue. good luck with the ID hope they answer. Please keep us updated.

 

[Itort]

Here's a helpful site: www.plants.usda.gov/index.html

 

[Chucky]

Ok, I finally got an answer from a college that is or was doing a study on weeds and what I have is..........

Prickly Lettuce!

Here was his answer:
That's prickly lettuce. Note the line of spines on the midrib on the bottom side of the leaf. That's a good way to identify it.

 

[Crazy1]

OK so I have bragging rights here lol. That is how I ID'd it by those darn spines. I also found in talking to Michael today the torts love it when it is a young weed and it is a good one for them to eat. So there we have it.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hate to disagree with Yvonne but it's hawkbit. All my torts love it and it's one of the summer staples.

Please don't feel that way. Disagree any time its necessary. I call every weed that exudes a milky sap when broken, milkweed.

Yvonne

 

[Chucky]

And Robyn wins a Prickly Lettuce Leaf!

 

[Itort]

Disagreement is one way to grow and learn. No offense meant or taken. I'm still envious of your DTs, LOL.

 

[Crazy1]

Thanks Chucky but I have all I can handle now LOL. And I hate that white sticky sap but not as much as the spines.

 

[mtdavis817254]

prickily lettuce.. my sulcatas love em