Is it poisonous?

[jemoulding]

This year, I have found a lot of this plant in my grazing pastures. It appeared last year, although only in small quantities, but this year it seems to be evrywhere! Neither the horses or cows will eat it, but is it poisonous? I have been pulling it up just in case...
It grows to about 6-12", has a small pink flower, quite a woody stem and elongated leaves about 8-12mm long.
I would be grateful if anybody can help.

[Rambling Rob]

Hello,
It looks rather like Red Bartsia Odontites verna, a semi-parasitic annual common in 'disturbed' ground. If so, I don't find it listed as having poisonous properties. That said, it's in the same family (Figwort family) as the Foxglove which is poisonous.
I'd do a google search for images of Red Bartsia and see if it resembles what you've got there, as the flowers in the pic are perhaps not quite clear enough to be 100 per cent.
Rob

[Hedera]

There is another kind of bartsia, serotina, which has leaves like yours if they are not notched. Mainly grows in South of England.

[jemoulding]

Thanks guys, you have been very helpful. I am sure it is a Bartsia, but having found lots of pictures Red Bartsia, it is very slightly different...the flowers seem paler and the leaves have smoother edges, so I suspect it may be the Serotina variety. But I cannot find any pictures of Bartsia Serotina at all, which is most frustrating!

Worryingly it seems it can become a bit of a problem and there is no easy method of contoling it, so I'd better keep pulling it up!

Thank you once again.

[davidbr]

It is indeed Red Bartsia, Odontites verna, and whilst it isn't poisonous it does have an unpleasant, bitter taste that lingers in the mouth. That, I suspect, is why your (very sensible) animals avoid it

[jemoulding]

You seem very sure Davidbr...what are the differences between the 2 varieties? Either way, I assume both are as unwelcome in a grazed pasture as each other!

[ceterach]

As has been said it is O.verna of which two subspecies are recognised, O.verna ssp verna and O.verna ssp serotina. Although not clear your photo appears to show O.verna ssp serotina which is by far the commonest in southern Britain.

The plant is a semi-parasite on grass and is an early indicator of unimproved pasture and grassland, I have never seen any info suggesting it is toxic to grazing animals. I suggest davidbr is correct in his reasoning.

All the best

[jemoulding]

Thanks everybody, you've all been a great help!

[Adam Cheeseman]

I would also add that in all of the places I have seen grazing carried out on the North Downs where this plant it occurs there is no effort made to remove the plant in any way before grazing takes place.

Cheers,

Adam