Oval heron's bill, Mediterranean Stork's Bill
Erodium malacoides

Family: Geraniaceae

What it is like

An erect or sprawling herb. It has hairs. It can grow for one or two years. The leaves are oval or oblong. They are heart shaped at the base and have teeth. The leaves can have 3 lobes. The leaves are covered with small shiny glands. The flowers are purple or pink and 11-18 mm across. There are 3-7 flowers in a group. The fruit has a beak 18-35 mm long.

There are about 200 Erodium species.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean plant. It grows in dry open places. In Pakistan it is in shady places between 700-1,000 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Algeria, Arabia, Argentina, Australia, Azores, Balkans, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Central Asia, Chile, China, Cyprus, Egypt, Europe, France, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Libya, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, South America, Spain, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Uruguay, West Indies, Yemen, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked as a potherb. The bottom of the immature fruit is chewed as a snack.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit base

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Alfilerillo hembra, Alfileteros, Donbaba, Ignelik, Kocakariignesi, Mallow-leaved stork's-bill, Soft stork's-bill

Synonyms

Erodium subtriflorum; Geranium malacoides L.;