Common Storksbill, Red-stem Filaree
Erodium cicutarium

Family: Geraniaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. The stems are creeping or can curve upwards. They are 20-30 cm long. The leaves are deeply divided and 10 cm long. They are feather-like. The flowers are pink. They occur in clusters of 1-9 on the ends of branches. The fruit have long slender beaks. It is a very variable plant.

There are about 60 Erodium species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in grassland. In temperate China it grows on flood plains between 700-2,200 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Algeria, Arabia, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azores, Balkans, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary Islands, Caucasus, Central America, Central Asia, Chile, China, Crete, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Europe (country/location of origin), Falklands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Siberia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The young plant is cooked and eaten or also eaten raw. They can be added to salads, sauces, omelettes, sandwiches, or soups. The bottom of the young fruit is chewed.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves, stems, roots, fruit base

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds or by division of the roots.

Its other names

Local names

Alfilaria, Alfileres, Alfilerillo, Cachu loica, Carota selvaggia, Derzidank, Derzikepire, Filaree, Iglica, Ignelik, Karga didagi, Kocakarı iğnesi, Mam darzila, Navadni čapljevec, Pin grass, Pirexalace, Pirxalack, Redstem filaree, Relojito, Sagdandan, Sahatoka, Savartskhela, Storksbill, Turnagagas, Wild musk

Synonyms

Erodium albidum Picard; and many others Geranium cicutarium L.;