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Burdock
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In the UK, two types of burdock, Greater burdock (Arctium minus) and Lesser burdock (Arctium lappa) may be found on waste ground, verges, and hedgerows. The picture shows Greater Burdock. It is a large plant with big leaves. Although the plant is not poisonous, the seed heads can cause problems as they are large and stick strongly to clothes and animal fur.
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PLANTS TO AVOID
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Buttercup leaves
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Buttercups are often included in lists of poisonous plants because, during its flowering stage, the plant contains a toxin, protoanemonin, which is released when the plant is crushed. It is a volatile, bitter, yellow oil that is prone to spontaneous polymerization to yield innocuous anemonin. Protoanemonin is degraded by drying, so hay containing dried buttercups is safe. Rabbits do not eat buttercup leaves and there are no reports of buttercup poisoning in rabbits. There are reports in other species in situations where buttercups are all that is left in overgrazed fields and the animals eat them out of desperation.
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PLANTS TO AVOID
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Celandine
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Lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) is a common spring plant that grows from root tubers. It is a member of the buttercup family, so, theoretically, it might be poisonous. It is better left alone when foraging for rabbits, although it will not matter if a few leaves make their way into picked forage because the leaves are not palatable, and they will be left uneaten.
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PLANTS TO AVOID
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Celery leaved buttercup
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Celery leaved buttercup (Ranunculus scleratus) grows in wet and moist places, such as ponds and streambanks. It classed as toxic to humans because it contains an irritant that can cause blisters in humans that touch it. There are no reports of problems with rabbits.
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PLANTS TO AVOID
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Chickweed
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Chickweed (Stellaria media) is a hardy, low growing plant that grows in cool damp places. It is one of the earliest plants to appear in the spring and may still be found in autumn if conditions are wet. It is an easy plant to pick for rabbits because it grows in large clumps. Some rabbits enjoy it. Others do not. The plant sometimes appears on lists of poisonous plants because it contains saponins but there are no reports of toxicity in rabbits. A rabbit would need to eat a large amount to ingest enough saponins to cause problems.
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EDIBLE WILD PLANTS
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Clover
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Clover (Trefolium spp.) is a common plant in areas that are grazed by rabbits. It has an unsubstantiated reputation for causing bloat, probably because it can cause problems in ruminants that eat a large amount of new growth in the spring. The digestive physiology of rabbits is different. Clover is not harmful for rabbits and is often found in lawns or among grass and other plants on verges and other foraging sites.
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EDIBLE WILD PLANTS
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Clover (red)
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Clover is common on rough grassland and on roadsides where there is forage to pick. There are many varieties, and it is palatable for rabbits. Red clover (Trefolium pratense) is easier to pick than white clover (Trefolium repens) because it is larger. Clover has an unfounded reputation for causing bloat in rabbits probably because ingestion of large quantities of young clover can cause bloat in cattle. The digestive physiology of ruminants, such as cattle, is different from hindgut fermenters, such as rabbits.
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FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR
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Clover (white)
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White clover (Trifolium repens) is a common plant in lawns, pastureland, and verges. It is enjoyed by rabbits that can graze on lawns containing clover but is more difficult to pick than red clover because of its low growing creeping growth.
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EDIBLE WILD PLANTS
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Coltsfoot
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Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) is a perennial plant that may be seen on verges or hard bare ground that has been disturbed. It can be a problem on arable land and in gardens. The flowers appear in the spring and die back before the leaves appear. The leaves can be fed to rabbits in moderation.
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EDIBLE WILD PLANTS
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Coltsfoot flower
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The yellow flowers of coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) appear from long flowering stems that emerge from the ground in early spring. The flowers resemble dandelion flowers although the seedhead is smaller.
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EDIBLE WILD PLANTS