Erodium brachycarpum
| Erodium brachycarpum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Geraniales |
| Family: | Geraniaceae |
| Genus: | Erodium |
| Species: | E. brachycarpum |
| Binomial name | |
| Erodium brachycarpum (Godr.) Thell. | |
Erodium brachycarpum is a species of flowering plant in the geranium family known by the common name shortfruit stork's bill. It is native to southern Europe but it is known elsewhere as an introduced species and often a weed, such as the west coast of the United States where it is widespread in California and Oregon. This annual herb grows up to about half a meter tall and bears lobed, hairy, petioled leaves with blades up to 10 centimeters wide. The inflorescence is an umbel of lavender flowers with five petals each about a centimeter long and often dark-striped. They are like those borne by the similar stork's bill Erodium botrys. The fruit has a hairy base just over half a centimeter long and a style which may reach 8 centimeters in length.