What plant is this?

[Australorp Chook]

Hi everyone, we have this tree in our garden, native to NZ, and I’m not sure what it is or if our chickens can eat it. I think it’s bush lawyer, but I can’t really tell. Do you have any ideas?

This is the tree…

These are the leaves…

And this is the flower…

If you do know what this plant is, or might be, could you also say if it is safe for chickens?
Thanks

 

[Debbie292d]

I looked at pictures of bush lawyer, but a google search says it's a Myoporum, and yes, it's bad for chickens and pretty much all animals if ingested.

Usually, chickens know what's toxic to them, and they won't eat it.

​

 

[Australorp Chook]

I looked at pictures of bush lawyer, but a google search says it's a Myoporum, and yes, it's bad for chickens and pretty much all animals if ingested.

Usually, chickens know what's toxic to them, and they won't eat it.

​

Thank you so much.

 

[PimsGarden]

Hi everyone, we have this tree in our garden, native to NZ, and I’m not sure what it is or if our chickens can eat it. I think it’s bush lawyer, but I can’t really tell. Do you have any ideas?
View attachment 3963328
This is the tree…
View attachment 3963340
These are the leaves…
View attachment 3963341
And this is the flower…

If you do know what this plant is, or might be, could you also say if it is safe for chickens?
Thanks

Catalpa!

 

[PimsGarden]

So Catalpa isn't native to NZ, it's introduced and I see observations of it on iNaturalist. I don't think it's an issue for animals to eat, I haven't read anything about it being toxic or anything like that. But I'm pretty sure that is Catalpa bignonioides.

 

[PimsGarden]

Thank you so much.

Bush lawyer is a climbing plant and not a tree, the flowers are not the same as the one you posted either. Download the app iNaturalist, it's free, you can upload pics and it will help you identify the living thing you uploaded! It's super cool!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

USDA database on Catalpa. They usually mention in a plant is hazardous to livestock (if widely known). In this case, it used to be used for fenceposts, (so I assume) its likely reasonably safe. Southern Catalpa

The leaves look different to me than what the Original Poster pictured, but I am TERRIBLE at identifying plants, so please, judge for yourself. Plant ID a subject on which my opinion is near meaningless.

as @Debbie292d correctly observes above, Chickens are usually pretty good at not consuming immediately harmful things to excess.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Are sure its not this?
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/63611-Myoporum-laetum

https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/myoporum-laetum/

etc

"Ngiao tree"

Native, similar flowers. Similar leaves.

Comparable berries???

 

[PimsGarden]

Are sure its not this?
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/63611-Myoporum-laetum

https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/myoporum-laetum/

etc

"Ngiao tree"

Native, similar flowers. Similar leaves.

Comparable berries???

Very possible, original post is hard to see the leaves.

 

[PimsGarden]

Are sure its not this?
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/63611-Myoporum-laetum

https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/myoporum-laetum/

etc

"Ngiao tree"

Native, similar flowers. Similar leaves.

Comparable berries???

If it is this, it says this about it...

The leaves of this tree contain the liver toxin ngaione, which can cause sickness and or death in stock such as horses, cattle, sheep and pigs.


It doesn't mention chickens though.