Erodium

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Erodium
Erodium malacoides
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Geraniales
Family: Geraniaceae
Genus: Erodium
Aiton
Species

See text

Synonyms
  • Erodion St.-Lag.
  • Myrrhina Rupr.
  • Ramphocarpus Neck.

Erodium is a

perennials, annuals, or subshrubs, with five-petalled flowers in shades of white, pink, and purple, that strongly resemble the better-known Geranium (cranesbill).[1]
Cultivated plants are known as filarees or heron's bill in North America, whereas in the British Isles they are usually called storksbills.

Taxonomy

anthers: five for Erodium,[2] seven for Pelargonium, and ten for Geranium.[2]
However, the three genera have the same characteristics in regard to their fruit, which resemble long bird beaks. That characteristic is the basis for the names: Geranium evokes the crane (Greek geranos), Pelargonium the stork (pelargos), and Erodium the heron (erodios).

Cultivation

In cultivation, erodiums are usually seen in

The

perennial with rose-pink flowers in summer, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3]

Ecology

Erodium species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the pasture day moth.

Species

Fruit of Erodium ciconium
Erodium lebelii
MHNT

As of July 2020, the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families accepts 119 species:[4]

Hybrids include:

Uses

Species such as E. cicutarium and E. moschatum are edible.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ .
  2. ^
  3. ^ "Erodium × variabile 'Roseum'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Erodium L'Hér. ex Aiton". Plants of the World Online.
  5. .

Further reading