redstem stork's bill
Family
GeraniaceaeScientific Name
Erodium cicutarium
Other Common Names:
alfilaree
filaree
redstem filaree
alfilaria
stork's bill
Habit
Plants may act as winter annuals or biennials. Plants grow prostrate to semi-erect and have numerous branches that grow from a basal rosette. Flowers in spring with a showy pinkish or purple display.
Leaves
Leaves are hairy and strongly dissected into numerous segments and usually have a reddish tint. Leaves are arranged opposite on the upper portion of stems and alternate below.
Identifying Characteristics
Prostrate growth with strongly dissected leaves. Fruit capsule resembles a stork's bill due to a pointed appendage that is up to 5 cm long.
Flower Seed Head
Flowers in spring producing pinkish-purple flowers in clusters of six to nine on long slender stalks. Flowers are mostly five parted and on the whole, about the diameter of a pencil eraser (1 cm diameter).
Seed Fruit
Fruit is a characteristic green stork's bill. Fruit consist of a five-parted capsule with five seed that each have a long awn-like appendage attached together to form a smooth pointed beak on the end of the fruit. Fruit are typically 5 cm long but seed are about 6 mm. When fruit dries, it mechanically disperses seed due to built up tension from the drying process.
Where Found
Found in disturbed sites and seems to prefer well drained or compacted areas. Often found around rock pathways and ornamental beds as well as in disrupted or compacted turfgrass.
Life Cycle
winter annual
Plant Type
Herb