Native Plants
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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
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Monday - March 19, 2007
From: west palm beach, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Toxicity of non-native, invasive Wedelia trilobata
Answered by: Damon Waitt
QUESTION:
Could you tell me if Wedelia trilobata is toxic to animals? It grows so voraciously where I am that I am wanting to use the whole plant to feed to my large tortoises (who are also voracious for edible plant material).ANSWER:
Wedelia trilobata commonly known as Wedelia, Creeping Ox-eye or Yellow-dots is a native of South America and has been widely planted as an ornamental groundcover in more tropical parts of the US. According to Floridata and several other credible websites, plants in the Genus Wedelia are toxic to animals. In fact, Farm animals have aborted fetuses after grazing on Wedelia.
Do not, I repeat, do not under any circumstances feed it to your tortoises!!!
In addition, Wedelia trilobata often becomes an aggressive nuisance in the landscape and is cited widely as an invasive species. If you do have this non-native species in your garden, you might consider removing it before it gets out of control.
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