Plant Identification, Please! :D

[Desert Rose Rabbits]

I know this is some kind of thistle, but not sure what kind. Hopefully it's edible 'cause there's tons of it growing out here. Upon further research I believe this is what we call "Musk Thistle". Latin name Carduus nutans and is supposedly part of the sunflower family according to the PDF document I got from my local university.

 

[MaggieJ]

Welcome to RabbitTalk, Kitty! :welcome:

Not my part of the world, but these sites may be helpful.
http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/fi ... FS0351.pdf
http://tahoeinvasiveweeds.org/weeds/priority.php
http://nevadawild.blogspot.ca/2012/06/v ... le-in.html
http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/fi ... eb9801.pdf

All I did to find these and many others was to Google thistles Nevada.

A very quick glance suggests to me that it may be the invasive musk thistle, but you will have to decide for yourself based on your better knowledge of the plant.

Once you have a positive ID by Latin name, try googling it with the term toxicity or toxic to rabbits or edible for rabbits. That kind of thing. Extension agents and biology departments at universities can provide local knowledge.

Hope this helps! :clover:

 

[Desert Rose Rabbits]

Pretty sure it's Carduus nutans aka Musk Thistle, but thus far my search has been unsuccessful. What little I've gathered is that humans can eat it, and livestock such as cattle and goats can eat it but usually don't pasture on it due to the thorns/prickers.