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Image JPEG image Groundsel
Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) is useful plant for rabbits because it has a long growing season and can be found dry crevices, waste ground and on ground that has recently been disturbed. It is palatable and available when other forage is scarce. This picture was taken in March. The plant is sometimes listed as poisonous because it contains small quantities of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, but large amounts would need to be eaten for this to be a problem. Groundsel is difficult to pick in large quantities. There are no reports of toxicity in rabbits.
Located in Media / / FORAGING / FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR
Image JPEG image Cow parsley
Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) is a short-lived perennial. It grows in grassland, along hedges and woodland edges, road verges, railway banks and wasteland. The foliage is one of the first plants to appear in the spring and last to disappear in autumn. It is safe and palatable for rabbits but there is always a concern that the plant may be confused with hemlock (Conium maculatum)- see section on ‘Plant Toxicity’. Examination of the stems will confirm its identity as cow parsley.
Located in Media / / FORAGING / FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR
Image Blackberry (brambles)
Blackberry (Rubus 'fructiosus') is a common hedgerow plant, although the prickles can make it difficult to harvest . It is a semi-evergreen shrub that is common all over Europe. In winter, when other plants are rare, some leaves can still be found to feed to rabbits. In the British Isles there are over 320 ‘microspecies’. All are suitable to feed to rabbits
Located in Media / / FORAGING / FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR
Image D source code Bindweed (Hedge)
Hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium) is a safe plant for rabbits. They love it. Its sister plant - Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)- has a question mark over it because it contains toxins. The plants can be differentiated by their flowers, leaves and the way they grow. Hedge bindweed has large pure white flowers and grows vertically, twining around plants as it goes. It is commonly found in hedges.
Located in Media / / FORAGING / FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR
Image JPEG image Ash
Ash leaves are suitable for feeding to rabbits as part of a mixture of plants. Young shoots (as in picture) are palatable.
Located in Media / / FORAGING / FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR
Image JPEG image Cow Parsley- comparison with poison hemlock
This picture was taken in May. On the left is the young hemlock plant (Conium maculatum). On the right is a young cow parsley plant (Anthriscus sylvestris). The plants were growing next to each other and illustrate the differences. The main stem and the leaf stems of hemlock are circular, smooth, pale green with reddish purples spots and blotches. The main stem of cow parsley is also circular but has longitudinal grooves. The leaf stems of the cow parsley have the characteristic celery-like groove and are slightly hairy. The colour of cow parsley stems varies from green to purple like the example shown in this picture.
Located in Media / / FORAGING / FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR
Image JPEG image Cow parsley main stems
The main stems of cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) are very different from poison hemlock (Conium maculatum). The main stems are ridged and slightly hairy with no blotches.
Located in Media / / FORAGING / FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR
Image JPEG image Cow Parsley stem with groove
The leaf stem of Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) has a groove in it. This is present as soon as the leaves emerge and is an indicator that the plant is safe to pick for rabbits.
Located in Media / / FORAGING / FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR
Image JPEG image Bramble tips
The tips of new growth on blackberry plants are easy to pick because the prickles on the newly grown stem are soft. They are very palatable to rabbits.
Located in Media / / FORAGING / FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR
Image JPEG image Hogweed
Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), also known as Cow Parsnip, is a common plant in verges and grassy areas. The plant produces white flowers in late spring and summer and there is a second growth of new leaves in the autumn. Hogweed is not to be confused with Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum- see section on Plant Toxicity), which is a rare plant that grows very tall (up to 2 metres high) and causes a nasty skin reaction in people that handle it. At around I metre high, Hogweed is shorter
Located in Media / / FORAGING / FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR