I have a large patch of these growing in one of the pens near the rabbit barn. I don't know what they are and would appreciate some help identifying them and then knowing if they are safe to offer to the rabbits.
Plant ID please
- Thread starter caroline
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Caroline, is there an odour when you crush the leaves? If so, what does it smell like?
I couldn't logon for a couple of days 
so did not get back to you Maggie. In the meanwhile my friend saw the plants and tells me that they are horehound. I looked them up and they definitely look like the picture of Marrubium vulgare in wikipedia. It says they are "highly unpalatable" to livestock. They do taste bitter. Doesn't look like they would be harmful though. The article even mentions that they have antimicrobial and anticancer properties, antidiabetic, antimicrobial anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. Maybe I should try some myself
so did not get back to you Maggie. In the meanwhile my friend saw the plants and tells me that they are horehound. I looked them up and they definitely look like the picture of Marrubium vulgare in wikipedia. It says they are "highly unpalatable" to livestock. They do taste bitter. Doesn't look like they would be harmful though. The article even mentions that they have antimicrobial and anticancer properties, antidiabetic, antimicrobial anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. Maybe I should try some myself
I did wonder if the plant might be horehound... which is why I asked about the smell. I doubt it will be of much use to the rabbits, but it is excellent medicine when you have a cough or cold. Dry some to use for a medicinal tea (it is bitter, so will need sweetening) or make horehound candy to suck for a sore throat. A time-honoured remedy and there are plenty of recipes on the Internet.
