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Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Annual Forbs Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
with dissected, feathery leaves and purple flowers

General: Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium) is a branching, very green annual forb with dissected, feathery leaves. The purple flowers have five distinct petals. The seeds have a large head and a long beak, resembling a stork's head and bill. As the plant dries out, it turns reddish.

Redstem Stork's Bill is a common weed infecting most desert vegetation communities from the desert into the mountains. Around Las Vegas, look for this species everywhere, especially along roadsides and places with water.

Redstem Stork's Bill sprouts early in the spring, earlier than native plants. As such, this species is capable of sucking considerable amounts of water out of the soil before the native species germinate. This results in fewer native plants surviving long enough to set seeds for the future.

Family: Geranium (Geraniaceae).

Other Names: Heron's Bill, Storksbill, Filaree.

Plant Form: Spreading, many branched.

Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
purple flowers with five petals

Height: Usually about 6 inches, but to about 18 inches.

Stems: Spreading along the ground to upright, often low. Glandular.

Leaves: Compound, deeply dissected; entire leaf oval, to about 5 inches long; sparsely hairy.

Flowers: Inflorescence: umbel. Flowers purple; 5 petals, radial.

Seeds: Seed with a long beak that can twist and turn the seed into the soil.

Habitat: Many habitats.

Elevation: To about 6,000 ft.

Distribution: Occurs throughout the US; it is native to Eurasia.

Comments: This is a weed -- feel free to pull it up when found.

Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Redstem Stork's Bill often grows in disturbed soils along roadsides
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Redstem Stork's Bill can grow thick on desert soils, as in this burn area
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Redstem Stork's Bill growing thickly on desert soils
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Redstem Stork's Bill growing thickly on desert soils
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Early in the spring, Stork's Bill might be the only species sprouting
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Early in the spring, Stork's Bill might be the only species sprouting
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
One young Redstem Stork's Bill
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Two large Redstem Stork's Bill
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium) Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium) Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Redstem Stork's Bill starting to flower
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Redstem Stork's Bill starting to flower
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Redstem Stork's Bill flower and flower buds
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Redstem Stork's Bill flower and flower buds
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Seeds and flowers on the same plant
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Seeds and flowers on the same plant
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Redstem Stork's Bill developing seeds
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Redstem Stork's Bill developing seeds and developing "stork's bill"
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Redstem Stork's Bill developing seeds and developing "stork's bill"
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Redstem Stork's Bill developing seeds and developing "stork's bill"
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Redstem Stork's Bill developing seeds with a long beak
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Redstem Stork's Bill developing seeds with a long beak
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Blooming early leaves plants vulnerable to late-season freezes
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Blooming early leaves plants vulnerable to late-season freezes
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Early-season seeds killed in late-season snowstorm
Redstem Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Early-season seeds killed in late-season snowstorm

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
copyright; Last updated 220421

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