Common Persimmon?

[Galbir]

Evening folks,

I've got a persimmon tree growing on my front lawn and I was curious if it was safe to allow my rabbits to chew it's bark?

I couldn't find any info from Google or the list here. :x

Thanks!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

There are a lot of different trees that go by the name persimmon, so we really need the Latin name in order to help. If you do not know it, perhaps we can help identify the tree if you post pictures.
This site discusses Oriental Persimmons, but also gives the Latin names of some related species:

http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/persimmon.html

I found this info on Texas Persimmon Diospyros texana Scheele:

http://essmextension.tamu.edu/plants/pl ... persimmon/

And this on the American Persimmon Diospyros virginiana:

White-Tailed Deer also browse on the foliage and twigs of this tree.

http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/tre ... simmon.htm

 

[MaggieJ]

:yeahthat:

Botanical or Latin name is a necessity!

 

[Galbir]

Oh wow I had no idea that there we so many kinds lol. The tree's leaves are dead but while alive they looked almost exactly like the Diospyros texana Scheele that you posted. I assume since your information says that the fruit is toxic that the bark is as well?

Thank you MamaSheepdog.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Oh wow I had no idea that there we so many kinds lol.

:lol: Another problem with using common names is that they vary by region, so it gets very confusing.

I assume since your information says that the fruit is toxic that the bark is as well?

It actually said that it is toxic only in large amounts. In drought conditions animals overeat it because of the scarcity of other food sources.

This PDF discusses the preferred browse plants in the Edwards Plateau in Texas:

http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_int/int_gt ... 51_155.pdf

Texas Persimmon is a class IV browse plant, which means that it is eaten only as a last resort, so I would not recommend it as a feed source.

Small amounts of fruit may be okay, but I would test it on an animal that is not a part of your breeding herd in case of adverse effects.

Thank you MamaSheepdog.

You're welcome.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

Something that is very interesting about some plants is that if eaten raw, the plant may be toxic, but processed, it is not. My field guide to mushrooms/fungi indicates that there are tests one can perform to determine relative safety with fungi, but gee, who is going to carry paper of differing colors along with them just in case they get lost in the woods?