127 Species of Genus Erodium

Erodium: A Love Affair with Stork’s Bills

My name is Ferb Vu, and I have a confession to make. I’m utterly captivated by a genus of plants that many overlook – Erodium. Perhaps you’ve seen them, these unassuming members of the Geraniaceae family, often mistaken for their more flamboyant cousins, the geraniums. But to my eye, they possess a unique charm, a delicate beauty that whispers rather than shouts.

The name Erodium originates from the Greek word “erodios,” meaning “heron.” This is a nod to the elongated shape of their seed pods, which resemble a heron’s bill. In fact, they’re often called stork’s bills or heron’s bills, and these common names paint a vivid picture of their distinctive feature.

A Diverse and Widespread Genus

What fascinates me most about Erodium is its sheer diversity. This genus boasts over 80 species scattered across the globe. From the rocky slopes of the Mediterranean to the arid landscapes of Australia, Erodium has adapted to a wide range of habitats. This adaptability is reflected in the varied forms they take. Some, like Erodium cicutarium (common stork’s bill), are low-growing annuals, while others, like Erodium chrysanthum, form robust, evergreen mounds.

  1. Erodium absinthoides Willd.
  2. Erodium acaule (L.) Bech. & Thell.
  3. Erodium adenophorum Blatt.
  4. Erodium aethiopicum (Lam.) Brumh. & Thell.
  5. Erodium aguilellae López Udias, Fabregat & G.Mateo
  6. Erodium alnifolium Guss.
  7. Erodium alpinum (Burm.f.) L’Hér.
  8. Erodium amanum Boiss. & Kotschy
  9. Erodium × anaristatum Andreas
  10. Erodium angustilobum Carolin
  11. Erodium anthemidifolium M.Bieb.
  12. Erodium arborescens (Desf.) Willd.
  13. Erodium asplenioides (Desf.) Willd.
  14. Erodium astragaloides Boiss. & Reut.
  15. Erodium atlanticum Coss.
  16. Erodium aureum Carolin
  17. Erodium aytacii Yıld. & Doğru-Koca
  18. Erodium battandierianum Rouy
  19. Erodium beketowii Schmalh.
  20. Erodium birandianum Ilarslan & Yurdak.
  21. Erodium boissieri Coss.
  22. Erodium × bolosii Romo
  23. Erodium botrys (Cav.) Bertol.
  24. Erodium brachycarpum (Godr.) Thell.
  25. Erodium carvifolium Boiss. & Reut.
  26. Erodium cazorlanum Heywood
  27. Erodium cedrorum Schott
  28. Erodium celtibericum Pau
  29. Erodium cheilanthifolium Boiss.
  30. Erodium chevallieri Guitt.
  31. Erodium chilense I.M.Johnst.
  32. Erodium chium (L.) Willd.
  33. Erodium chrysanthum L’Hér.
  34. Erodium ciconium (L.) L’Hér.
  35. Erodium cicutarium (L.) L’Hér.
  36. Erodium corsicum Léman ex DC.
  37. Erodium crassifolium L’Hér.
  38. Erodium crenatum Pomel
  39. Erodium crinitum Carolin
  40. Erodium crispum Lapeyr.
  41. Erodium × cul-roigense Pérez Dacosta
  42. Erodium cyconioides Tzvelev
  43. Erodium cygnorum Nees
  44. Erodium cyrenaicum (Pamp.) Guitt.
  45. Erodium daucoides Boiss.
  46. Erodium dimorphum Wendelbo
  47. Erodium × fallax Jord.
  48. Erodium flexuosum P.H.Davis & J.Roberts
  49. Erodium foetidum (L.) L’Hér.
  50. Erodium fumarioides Steven
  51. Erodium gaillardotii Boiss.
  52. Erodium garamantum (Maire) Guitt.
  53. Erodium gaussenianum P.Monts.
  54. Erodium geoides A.St.-Hil.
  55. Erodium ghahremanii Assadi & Fakhr-Ranjbari
  56. Erodium glandulosum (Cav.) Willd.
  57. Erodium glaucophyllum (L.) L’Hér.
  58. Erodium gruinum (L.) L’Hér.
  59. Erodium guinochetianum Guitt.
  60. Erodium guttatum (Desf.) Willd.
  61. Erodium hakkiaricum P.H.Davis
  62. Erodium hartvigianum Strid & Kit Tan
  63. Erodium hendrikii Alpinar
  64. Erodium hesperium (Maire) H.Lindb.
  65. Erodium heteradenum (Pau & Font Quer) Guitt.
  66. Erodium heterosepalum Blatt.
  67. Erodium hoefftianum C.A.Mey.
  68. Erodium iranicum El-Oqlah
  69. Erodium jahandiezianum Emb., Maire & Weiller
  70. Erodium janszii Alarcón & al.
  71. Erodium keithii Guitt. & Le Houér.
  72. Erodium laciniatum (Cav.) Willd.
  73. Erodium lebelii Jord.
  74. Erodium leucanthum Boiss.
  75. Erodium litwinowii Woronow
  76. Erodium maculatum Salzm. ex C.Presl
  77. Erodium malacoides (L.) L’Hér.
  78. Erodium manescavi Coss.
  79. Erodium maritimum L’Hér.
  80. Erodium masguindalii Pau
  81. Erodium medeense Batt.
  82. Erodium meynieri Maire
  83. Erodium micropetalum Boiss. & Hausskn.
  84. Erodium microphyllum Pomel
  85. Erodium moschatum (L.) L’Hér.
  86. Erodium mouretii Pit.
  87. Erodium munbyanum Boiss. ex Munby
  88. Erodium nanum Blatt.
  89. Erodium nervulosum L’Hér.
  90. Erodium neuradifolium Delile ex Godr.
  91. Erodium oreophilum Quézel
  92. Erodium oxyrhinchum M.Bieb.
  93. Erodium paui Sennen
  94. Erodium pelargoniiflorum Boiss. & Heldr.
  95. Erodium populifolium L’Hér.
  96. Erodium pulverulentum (Cav.) Willd.
  97. Erodium recoderi Auriault & Guitt.
  98. Erodium reichardii (Murray) DC.
  99. Erodium rodiei (Braun-Blanq.) Poirion
  100. Erodium rupestre (Pourr. ex Cav.) Guitt.
  101. Erodium rupicola Boiss.
  102. Erodium ruthenicum M.Bieb.
  103. Erodium × saguntinum Pérez Dacosta
  104. Erodium salzmannii Delile
  105. Erodium sanguis-christi Sennen
  106. Erodium saxatile Pau
  107. Erodium schemachense Grossh.
  108. Erodium sebaceum Delile
  109. Erodium sibthorpianum Boiss.
  110. Erodium somanum Peşmen
  111. Erodium sosnowskianum Fed.
  112. Erodium stellatum Delile
  113. Erodium stephanianum Willd.
  114. Erodium stevenii M.Bieb.
  115. Erodium subintegrifolium Eig
  116. Erodium sublyratum Samp.
  117. Erodium tataricum Willd.
  118. Erodium telavivense Eig
  119. Erodium texanum A.Gray
  120. Erodium tibetanum Edgew. & Hook.f.
  121. Erodium tordylioides (Desf.) L’Hér.
  122. Erodium touchyanum Delile ex Godr.
  123. Erodium toussidanum Guitt.
  124. Erodium trichomanefolium L’Hér.
  125. Erodium trifolium (Cav.) Cav.
  126. Erodium vetteri Barbey & Fors.-Major
  127. Erodium × viscosum Salzm. ex Delile

The Allure of the Stork’s Bill

Why am I so drawn to these plants? Perhaps it’s their understated elegance. Their flowers, while smaller than those of many geraniums, possess a delicate beauty that is both captivating and refreshing. Or maybe it’s their resilience. Erodium species are tough survivors, thriving in conditions that would challenge many other plants. This tenacity is something I admire.

But more than anything, I think I’m drawn to their unique seed dispersal mechanism. As the seed pods dry, they develop a long, spiraling awn that acts like a corkscrew. When the awn comes into contact with moisture, it coils and uncoils, literally drilling the seed into the ground. This ingenious adaptation ensures that the seeds are securely planted, increasing their chances of germination.

A Gardener’s Perspective

From a gardener’s perspective, Erodium offers many advantages. They are relatively low-maintenance plants that tolerate a wide range of conditions. They are also drought-tolerant, making them ideal for water-wise gardens. And because they attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, they contribute to the overall health of the garden ecosystem.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, I encourage you to give Erodium a try. These charming plants will reward you with their delicate beauty, resilience, and fascinating adaptations. And who knows, you might just find yourself falling in love with stork’s bills, too.

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