Big Heron's-bill
Erodium botrys
Upright stiff-stemmed introduced weed to 50 cm high with stiff stems from flat rosette of deeply lobed green leaves on red stalks. Stems and leaves somewhat hairy. Small geranium-like flowers in a group of 1-3 have five purple-streaked pink, lavendar or blue petals.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Flora Type | Herbs |
| Other Common Names | Long Storksbill |
| Distinctive Features | Upright storkbill-shaped seedpod >8.5 cm long with an awn or bristle that helps it to pierce the soil crust for germination. |
| Biology | Annual. Widespread, common, occurs on roadsides, pastures, grasslands, on fertile soil. Regarded as an environmental weed in Vic. Major issue for sheep graziers as corkscrew-like seed contaminates wool and gets into the ears and eyes of livestock causing damage. |
| Native Status | Introduced |
| Flowering Time | Aug-Nov |
| Taxonomy | |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants) |
| Class | Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants) |
| Order | Geraniales |
| Family | Geraniaceae |
| Genus | Erodium |
| Species | botrys |
Native of South Africa. Widely naturalised in southern Australia. Long storkbill-shaped seedpod, bursts open in sharp spiral when ripe.Seeds twist themselves into the ground hygroscopically to aid germination.
| Interesting Facts | |
|---|---|
| Similar Species | Similar in appearance to E. brachycarpum. |
| Native Status | Introduced |