What is this invasive plant?

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canteron

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I think I’ve managed to upload a photo 👏 although it’s a bit blurry. Does anyone recognise this - it’s taken over the areas of poor soil in the paddocks. Is it poisonous or just a bit weird looking?

IMG_6310.jpeg
 
FieldOrnaments said:
That looks like horsetail which likes very boggy ground. The seed heads of it are edible and supposedly rather good in a stir fry
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I have it along one of my fields (the side that gets boggy) apparently it’s very invasive and toxic to horses. It has slowly started growing a few metres away from the hedge year on year so I’ve just topped it all the allow the grass to take over again. It’s quite pretty otherwise with its stripey stems!
 
Looks like cudweed. A friend had it spread all over her horse paddock so I guess invasive if it gets the chance. I think they sprayed in the end. But it's not toxic to horses. Are you on sandy soil?
 
winnie said:
Looks like cudweed. A friend had it spread all over her horse paddock so I guess invasive if it gets the chance. I think they sprayed in the end. But it's not toxic to horses. Are you on sandy soil?
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Yes and it was harrowed quite aggressively to get rid of the moss (which has burnt off anyway in the heat). Reading up on this plant (thanks to everyone for the identification) this is its perfect condition).

Luckily I can rest it and hope it gives up against the grass - if it ever rains, if not then spraying I guess.
 
spotty_pony2 said:
I have it along one of my fields (the side that gets boggy) apparently it’s very invasive and toxic to horses. It has slowly started growing a few metres away from the hedge year on year so I’ve just topped it all the allow the grass to take over again. It’s quite pretty otherwise with its stripey stems!
Click to expand...
Yeah raw it's toxic. Fascinating plant though, reproduces asexually by rhizomes and has been around since the dinosaurs
 
Google found this for me. I also read that it got its name, cudweed, because it was fed to cattle.

No, cudweed ( Gnaphalium ) is generally not considered poisonous to horses. While horses may graze on it, it's not known to cause any significant issues like some other plants such as ragwort.
 
FieldOrnaments said:
Op can you get better photos ?
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To upload them I seem to have to crop the photo a lot, then post and it comes out distorted. I am sure there is a cleverer way, I will research!
FieldOrnaments said:
Please be very careful relying on Google lens/apps for identification. They're ok as starting points but not always accurate
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Good point, but I am so gratefull for everyone pointing me in the right direction and I am pretty sure it is Cudworth. It seems though it’s so rare there isn’t a lot of new information of its toxicity to horses, and I am not about to experiment!!
 
canteron said:
To upload them I seem to have to crop the photo a lot, then post and it comes out distorted. I am sure there is a cleverer way, I will research!

Good point, but I am so gratefull for everyone pointing me in the right direction and I am pretty sure it is Cudworth. It seems though it’s so rare there isn’t a lot of new information of its toxicity to horses, and I am not about to experiment!!
Click to expand...
Photo resizer app
 
If you’ve got an iPhone you just
Attach file
Choose your photo
Go to line/dot things bottom right
Choose size (medium fine)
Done
Add
I had to do one as a test!.
 

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