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Australian stork's bill

Scientific Name: Erodium cygnorum

Family: Geraniaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Annual

Other Names:

       

Erodium cygnorum: Australian Stork's Bill

Erodium cygnorum, an herb native to Australia, is known by several common names depending on the region. These include:

  • Blue heronsbill (Western Australia)
  • Blue storksbill (South Australia)
  • Australian stork's bill (United States, generally)
  • Australian filaree (United States, generally)

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Family: Geraniaceae
  • Rank: Species
  • Synonyms/Related Species: The text also mentions Pelargonium australe (Austral Stork's-bill) and other Erodium species like Erodium malacoides and Erodium cicutarium.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to Australia, found across various states including New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania.
  • Widely naturalized in southern and eastern Australia, including the Australian Capital Territory.
  • Grows in coastal dunes and inland areas.
  • Introduced to North America and New Zealand.

Ecological Role

  • Considered invasive in California and parts of Australia.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Annual herb.
  • Non-woody plant (forb/herb).
  • Low-lying plant that produces long slender flowering stalks.
  • Flowers form in small umbel clusters with five petite petals.

Quirky Facts

  • The name *Pelargonium* comes from the Greek word *pelargos*, meaning "stork," referring to the storksbill-like shape of the fruit.