SussexbytheXmasTree
Well-Known Member
Does anyone know what plant this is? Some our paddocks at our yard seem to have them taking over since they’ve been rested.
Plant identification
- Thread starter SussexbytheXmasTree
- Start date
Prancerpoos
Well-Known Member
Looks like sticky mouse ear to me, cerastium glomeratum. Do the flower heads feel sticky?
PurBee
Well-Known Member
Cuckoo flower / Lady’s Smock - Cardamine pratensis?
PurBee
Well-Known Member
That seems more likely as its hairy, also known as chickweed.
Think that’s ok for horses?
Prancerpoos
Well-Known Member
It won’t hurt them, may even do them some good ?
PurBee
Well-Known Member
https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/chickweed-how-toxic.256146/
Seems ok for horses - only issue with very large quantities verified by other websites, but the amount a horse would ingest while grazing shouldnt be an issue, and is nutritional in moderate quantities.
Seems ok for horses - only issue with very large quantities verified by other websites, but the amount a horse would ingest while grazing shouldnt be an issue, and is nutritional in moderate quantities.
SussexbytheXmasTree
Well-Known Member
I’ve looked at some photos of chickweed on google and it doesn’t really look like that I don’t think. But maybe it’s the stage of growth it’s in. I’m not particularly worried about it being toxic more about it not being palatable and taking over from grasses thereby reducing our grazing which has taken a beating over the last few years with very little summer growth and wet winters poaching the ground.
ETA it does look like the sticky mouse ear variety though now I’ve specifically googled that.
Thanks all
ETA it does look like the sticky mouse ear variety though now I’ve specifically googled that.
Thanks all
hobo
Well-Known Member
Yep sticky mouse chickweed we get it here I love the name.
Lois Lame
Well-Known Member
This is not the good chickweed that many creatures like to eat. This is the pesky mouse-eared chickweed. A jolly pest it is, especially in potted plants in nurseries (I used to work in a nursery).
I imagine the horses will ignore it if there's decent food out there.
And of course if you watch horses graze, they maneuvre their lips around this plant but not around that plant. These leaves but not those leaves.
I imagine the horses will ignore it if there's decent food out there.
And of course if you watch horses graze, they maneuvre their lips around this plant but not around that plant. These leaves but not those leaves.
Frano
Well-Known Member
I have a lot in my paddock this year as well. I thought it was chickweed.
GoldenWillow
Well-Known Member
Mouse ear chickweed, identified for me by my neighbour as we also have it and I'd never seen it before, wish I still hadn't seen it!