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Useful Tropical Plants

Erodium cicutarium

(L.) L'Hér.

Geraniaceae

+ Synonyms

Erodium albidum Picard

Erodium allotrichum Steud. ex A.Rich

Erodium alsiniflorum Delile

Erodium ambiguum Pomel

Erodium arenarium Jord.

Erodium atomarium Delile ex Godr.

Erodium boraeanum Jord.

Erodium carneum Jord.

Erodium chaerophyllum (Cav.) Steud. ex Coss.

Erodium chaerophyllum Steud.

Erodium commixtum Jord. ex F.W.Schultz

Erodium danicum K.Larsen

Erodium dissectum Rouy

Erodium filicinum Pomel

Erodium glutinosum Dumort.

Erodium himalayanum Royle

Erodium hirsutum Schur

Erodium immaculatum (W.D.J.Koch) P.Fourn.

Erodium maculatum Salzm. ex C.Presl

Erodium melanostigma Mart.

Erodium millefolium Willd. ex Kunth

Erodium minutiflorum Godr.

Erodium moranense Willd. ex Kunth

Erodium pallidiflorum Jord.

Erodium parviflorum Jord.

Erodium petroselinum L'Hér. ex DC.

Erodium pilosum Menyh.

Erodium pimpinellifolium (Moench) Sibth.

Erodium praetermissum Jord. ex Boreau

Erodium sabulicolum Jord. ex Nyman

Erodium subalbidum Jord.

Erodium tenuisectum Lange

Erodium triviale Jord.

Erodium verbenifolium Delile

Geranium arenicolum Steud.

Geranium chaerophyllum Cav.

Geranium cicutarium L.

Geranium pentandrum Gilib.

Geranium petroselinum (L'Hér. ex DC.) L'Hér. ex Webb & Berth.

Geranium pimpinellifolium Moench

Geranium pimpinellifolium With.

Myrrhina inodora Rupr.

Common Name: Stork's Bill

Erodium cicutarium
Close-up of the flowers
Photograph by: AnRo0002
Creative Commons Zero, Public Domain Dedication
Erodium cicutarium Erodium cicutarium Erodium cicutarium Erodium cicutarium Erodium cicutarium Erodium cicutarium Erodium cicutarium Erodium cicutarium Erodium cicutarium Erodium cicutarium

General Information

Erodium cicutarium is an erect to decumbent, annual plant producing numerous stems usually 10 - 15cm tall, occasionally to 40cm[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

17
Title
Flora of the British Isles.
Publication
 
Author
Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1962
ISBN
-
Description
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

Range

Europe - from Norway, south and east to N. Africa, through C. Asia to the Himalayas and China.

Habitat

Sandy dunes, grassland, arable land, waste areas, roadsides, railway embankments etc, usually near the sea[
9
Title
Edible and Medicinal Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Launert. E.
Publisher
Hamlyn
Year
1981
ISBN
0-600-37216-2
Description
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.
].

Properties

Weed PotentialYes
Edibility Rating *  *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitAnnual
Height0.60 m
PollinatorsBees, Beetles, Lepidoptera, Self
Self-fertileYes
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Erodium cicutarium is native mainly to the temperate zone, ranging as far north as Norway. It can also be found in subtropical areas and has spread as a weed into the tropics, mainly at higher elevations.
Prefers a sunny well-drained position and a limy soil or at least one that is not acid[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
]. Plants are likely to be resistant to maritime exposure[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
The plant can invade disturbed areas and, once established, can form dense stands that eliminate native vegetation and can successfully compete with natve grasses and herbs[
1003
Title
Invasive lant Species of the World; a reference guide to envoronmental weeds.
Publication
 
Author
Weber E.
Publisher
Biddles Ltd., King's Lynn, UK
Year
2005
ISBN
0-85199-695-7
Description
Contains information on the habit and growth patterns of 450 recognised invasive species of plant.
].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked as a potherb[
2
Title
Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Hedrick. U. P.
Publisher
Dover Publications
Year
1972
ISBN
0-486-20459-6
Description
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
,
62
Title
A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Elias. T. and Dykeman. P.
Publisher
Van Nostrand Reinhold
Year
1982
ISBN
0442222009
Description
Very readable.
,
84
Title
A Field Guide to the Common and Interesting Plants of Baja California.
Publication
 
Author
Coyle. J. and Roberts. N. C.
Publisher
Natural History Publishing Co.
Year
1975
ISBN
-
Description
A very readable pocket flora with good illustrations, it gives quite a few plant uses.
,
85
Title
Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains.
Publication
 
Author
Harrington. H. D.
Publisher
University of New Mexico Press
Year
1967
ISBN
0-8623-0343-9
Description
A superb book. Very readable, it gives the results of the authors experiments with native edible plants.
,
183
Title
Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications
Year
1990
ISBN
0-9628087-0-9
Description
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
]. Harvested before the plant flowers[
257
Title
Native American Ethnobotany
Publication
 
Author
Moerman. D.
Publisher
Timber Press. Oregon.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-88192-453-9
Description
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
], they are tasty and nutritious[
207
Title
The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers.
Publication
 
Author
Coffey. T.
Publisher
Facts on File.
Year
1993
ISBN
0-8160-2624-6
Description
A nice read, lots of information on plant uses.
]. The leaves are added to salads, sandwiches, soups etc[
9
Title
Edible and Medicinal Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Launert. E.
Publisher
Hamlyn
Year
1981
ISBN
0-600-37216-2
Description
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.
], they can be used in recipes that call for leaves of beet, plantain, sow thistle or amaranth[
183
Title
Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications
Year
1990
ISBN
0-9628087-0-9
Description
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
].

Young stems - raw[
257
Title
Native American Ethnobotany
Publication
 
Author
Moerman. D.
Publisher
Timber Press. Oregon.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-88192-453-9
Description
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].

Root - chewed by children as a gum[
257
Title
Native American Ethnobotany
Publication
 
Author
Moerman. D.
Publisher
Timber Press. Oregon.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-88192-453-9
Description
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].

Medicinal

The whole plant is astringent and haemostatic{9,
13
Title
Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Triska. Dr.
Publisher
Hamlyn
Year
1975
ISBN
0-600-33545-3
Description
Very interesting reading, giving some details of plant uses and quite a lot of folk-lore.
,
21
Title
The Herb Book.
Publication
 
Author
Lust. J.
Publisher
Bantam books
Year
1983
ISBN
0-553-23827-2
Description
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.
]. It has been used in the treatment of uterine and other bleeding[
9
Title
Edible and Medicinal Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Launert. E.
Publisher
Hamlyn
Year
1981
ISBN
0-600-37216-2
Description
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.
]. The root and leaves have been eaten by nursing mothers to increase the flow of milk[
257
Title
Native American Ethnobotany
Publication
 
Author
Moerman. D.
Publisher
Timber Press. Oregon.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-88192-453-9
Description
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
Externally, the plant has been used as a wash on animal bites, skin infections etc[
257
Title
Native American Ethnobotany
Publication
 
Author
Moerman. D.
Publisher
Timber Press. Oregon.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-88192-453-9
Description
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].

A tea made from the leaves is diaphoretic and diuretic[
222
Title
A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
Publication
 
Author
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A.
Publisher
Houghton Mifflin Co.
Year
1990
ISBN
0395467225
Description
A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of typhoid fever[
257
Title
Native American Ethnobotany
Publication
 
Author
Moerman. D.
Publisher
Timber Press. Oregon.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-88192-453-9
Description
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
]. The leaves are soaked in water and used as a bath for the treatment of rheumatism[
222
Title
A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
Publication
 
Author
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A.
Publisher
Houghton Mifflin Co.
Year
1990
ISBN
0395467225
Description
A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
].

A poultice of the chewed root has been applied to sores and rashes[
257
Title
Native American Ethnobotany
Publication
 
Author
Moerman. D.
Publisher
Timber Press. Oregon.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-88192-453-9
Description
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].

The seeds contain vitamin K, a poultice of them is applied to gouty typhus[
222
Title
A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
Publication
 
Author
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A.
Publisher
Houghton Mifflin Co.
Year
1990
ISBN
0395467225
Description
A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
].

Other Uses

A green dye is obtained from the whole plant. It does not require a mordant[
168
Title
Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Grae. I.
Publisher
MacMillan Publishing Co. New York.
Year
1974
ISBN
0-02-544950-8
Description
A very good and readable book on dyeing.
].

The remnants of the styles are very hygroscopic, they can be used in hygrometers and as weather indicators[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
61
Title
A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
Publication
 
Author
Usher. G.
Publisher
Constable
Year
1974
ISBN
0094579202
Description
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
].

The dried plant powder has been mixed with watermelon seeds during storage and planting in order to prevent watermelon diseases[
257
Title
Native American Ethnobotany
Publication
 
Author
Moerman. D.
Publisher
Timber Press. Oregon.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-88192-453-9
Description
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ - it is best sown as soon as the seed is ripe. Germination usually takes place within 3 weeks[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Erodium+cicutarium>

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