The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Identification => Topic started by: DenisCooper on June 20, 2020, 03:33:58 pm

Title: Any idea what this is?
Post by: DenisCooper on June 20, 2020, 03:33:58 pm
Any ideas what this is growing amongst the potatoes and veg.
Title: Re: Any idea what this is?
Post by: cans on June 20, 2020, 04:55:41 pm
No idea whatsoever, but I’d pull it out.   :coat:
Title: Re: Any idea what this is?
Post by: in the hills on June 20, 2020, 07:26:59 pm
Pineapple weed??????  I think............
Title: Re: Any idea what this is?
Post by: arobwk on June 20, 2020, 07:37:08 pm
Whoa! 
If you like fennel [member=160777]DenisCooper[/member]  don't be too hasty about pulling out - you might want to pick a bit and see how it smells !?  If it doesn't smell of aniseed (or you don't like aniseed flavour), then maybe pull it out. 
Some members of the carrot family can be rather toxic:  others can be quite useful !!


[I don't think it can be pineapple weed as suggested by "in the hills", but, should it prove to be, that is also edible (although I have no idea whether all parts of pineapple weed are edible)]
Title: Re: Any idea what this is?
Post by: Fleecewife on June 20, 2020, 07:38:40 pm
It looks like pineapple weed/aka pineapple mayweed/Camomilla suaveolens.  If it is then yes, weed it out, I seem to recall that something finds it toxic, sheep perhaps. The flower is a petal-less bobble, yellow. Your specimen looks a little more lush than usual perhaps because it's growing in a veg bed, whereas it normally grows where people and animals have been trampling.
Title: Re: Any idea what this is?
Post by: Womble on June 20, 2020, 08:00:53 pm
I seem to recall that something finds it toxic, sheep perhaps.


God, I hope not!  We've got tonnes of it this year growing all around the muddy bit by the hay racks.

Can anybody advise if it's poisonous to sheep or not? They definitely munch it, and aren't dead yet though....
Title: Re: Any idea what this is?
Post by: DenisCooper on June 20, 2020, 08:42:31 pm
It’s definitely not fennel although thank you as I knew it reminded me of something.

Looking at it it may be pineapple weed. After posting I saw some more established ones and they have the little green bobbles with yellow tips starting to appear in the centre.
Title: Re: Any idea what this is?
Post by: arobwk on June 20, 2020, 09:37:04 pm
OK, so do flower heads smell of pineapple (or taste of pineapple if you are prepared to give that a try) ?
Title: Re: Any idea what this is?
Post by: Fleecewife on June 21, 2020, 12:01:02 am
I seem to recall that something finds it toxic, sheep perhaps.


God, I hope not!  We've got tonnes of it this year growing all around the muddy bit by the hay racks.

Can anybody advise if it's poisonous to sheep or not? They definitely munch it, and aren't dead yet though....

I remember being amazed when I read the claim that it was toxic but I can't find anything now saying it is.  It's related to camomile which is medicinal, and it can be used as a wormer so clearly it does have chemical properties.  Our sheep have eaten it too and didn't drop down dead, but there are degrees and degrees of toxicity, so it could simply be that it causes a reaction or has a cumulative effect- toxic doesn't equal lethal.  Sorry I can't remember exactly where I read about the toxicity.  In one toxicity list I looked at, spindle, elder, bluebells, garlic and onions are all quoted as toxic
Title: Re: Any idea what this is?
Post by: Womble on June 21, 2020, 09:38:57 am
Tim Tyne's book says it makes milk taste horrid! (Maybe he just doesn't like the taste of pineapple?  ;D )
Title: Re: Any idea what this is?
Post by: doganjo on June 21, 2020, 04:02:38 pm
https://www.wildfooduk.com/edible-wild-plants/pineapple-weed/ (https://www.wildfooduk.com/edible-wild-plants/pineapple-weed/)