How can i be sure i have a Stachys byzantina in my hands? What are the plants that look alike them, that i should be wary?
How can i be sure i have a Stachys byzantina in my hands? What are the plants that look alike them, that i should be wary?
I'm gonna eat that motherfucker, so I need to be sure. Can birds, cats and dogs also eat them?
Edit: my cat sneaked into the room and ate a bit of a leaf, the same size I had tried myself yesterday. We dead, I'm typing from the afterlife. I tried uploading an actual photo of my plant but lemmy won't let me.
When trying to identify a plant, its characteristics are what you go by. This page has some that you can use for this plant, though you'll need a dissecting microscope most likely for some things, like stamens (the things that have pollen).
https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/stachys/byzantina/
[email protected] might be able to help.
No idea about cats/dogs.
It's not accurate enough to be sure about whether you can eat it or not, but if you want to take a look at visually similar plants in your area:
Use the iNaturalist app.
Take a picture of it (or upload the picture you already have).
Click on "View Suggestions" and it should highlight visually similar plants as well as highlight matches that are most commonly found around you.
You don't need to submit the photo to their database, but if you do make sure to check the "it is cultivated" box if it's something you've grown yourself.
Again, do not depend on this to decide whether it's safe or not, but at the very least it will help you to research visually similar plants in your area.
I'll try the app. It's funny that I bought it from a plant nursery, BUT they also had another plant, really similar but had a striking floral scent when you crushed the leaves (like lavender), and when I went to look up the name she gave me I found a whole set of different plant that had nothing to do with that one.
Anyway. I'm probably gonna dunk in batter then fry out when it grows enough leaves... if it's the right plant (an unconventional edible produce called "peixinho da horta").
I already got myself "flying potatoes" (another PANC, "cará do ar") and I hope I can eat them in the same meal, that would be cool af.
I mean, that looks like lamb's ear, but I wouldn't suggest eating it - it's only technically edible, lol. It has a nice pineappley smell, though!
Oh this one on the pic isn't mine. It was silly to not post mine, but I didn't had it with me when I decided to post.
Mine doesn't smells pineappley. Also doesn't smell like fish, which some places said it tasted like. Doesn't taste like fish either (I tasted a tiny bit, raw).