Erodium lebelii

Last updated

Erodium lebelii
Erodium lebelii flowers.jpg
LC (INPN) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Geraniales
Family: Geraniaceae
Genus: Erodium
Species:
E. lebelii
Binomial name
Erodium lebelii
Jord.
Synonyms
  • Erodium cicutarium var. lebelii(Jord.) Nyman
  • Erodium aethiopicum(Lam.) Brumhard & Thell.
  • Erodium glutinosumDumort.
  • Erodium cicutarium ssp. bipinnatumauct. non (Cav.) Tourlet

Erodium lebelii, sticky stork's-bill, is an annual plant in the family Geraniaceae. It occurs on sand dunes and heaths on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of western Europe. Its taxonomic status is uncertain: some authorities consider it merely a variety or subspecies of common stork's-bill while others consider it to be the same as the north African species Erodium aethiopicum .

Contents

Description

Sticky stork's-bill is an annual monoecious herb which typically grows in rosettes pressed flat to the ground, with a deep tap root that allows it to survive through the summer on dry soils. The stem is often very short, but can be up to 15 or even 25 cm long, green or reddish in colour, and covered in dense, glandular hairs particularly towards the top. The leaves are all or mostly basal, but are arranged in opposite pairs if the stem elongates. Each leaf is deeply divided or pinnate, with deeply incised segments (cut more than halfway to the base), up to 3 cm long, and covered in white hairs. The petioles are also hairy and are somewhat shorter than the blade.

Detail of a leaf Erodium lebelii leaf.jpg
Detail of a leaf

There can be several inflorescences, which are umbels of 2-4 (sometimes 5) actinomorphic flowers, arising from the tops of the branched stem. The flowers are supported by densely glandular-hairy pedicels about 1 cm long. They are hermaphroditic, with 5 glandular-hairy sepals a few millimetres long and 5 white to pinkish petals 5 mm long. There are also five stamens and five carpels, which develop into fruits that look like a miniature storks bill. Each fruit is a schizocarp which breaks into 5 mericarps, each of which has a short (5 mm) basal segment containing one black seed, and a long (20 mm) beak that splits open at maturity to reveal a feathery appendage that enables the seeds to be dispersed by the wind. At the top of the basal segment there is a large, shallow pit that (unlike common stork's-bill) is not surrounded by a ridge and groove, but is partially covered by the long white hairs on the body of the mericarp. [2] [3] [4]

The flowers are pale lilac and unspotted. Erodium lebelii Fouesnant.jpg
The flowers are pale lilac and unspotted.

Identification

Glandular hairs on the pedicel and sepals is a key identification feature. Erodium lebelii glandular hairs.jpg
Glandular hairs on the pedicel and sepals is a key identification feature.

Sticky stork's-bill is very similar in appearance to common stork's-bill, especially the coastal variety of that species, E. cicutarium ssp. dunense. The key features to look out for are the dense glandular hairs on the pedicels and sepals of E. lebelii, the greyish appearance of its leaves, the pale flowers which are usually in pairs, rather than groups, and the apical pit of the mericarp, which is not surrounded by a ridge and groove. The petals must be unspotted. Confirmation can be made by a chromosome count.

Musk stork's-bill is sometimes very glandular and sticky, but the leaflets of its pinnate leaves are almost entire, and it has large, pink flowers. [4] [5] [6]

Taxonomy

The name Erodium lebelii was coined by the French botanist Claude Thomas Alexis Jordan in the Classe des Sciences publication of the Academy of Sciences, Literature and Arts of Lyon 1851, [7] which is not currently available on the society's website. Although Jordan created an enormous herbarium, the type specimens are all British material, housed at the Natural History Museum in London. Over the years there has been much confusion about which stork's-bills should be considered species, but the currently accepted account was worked out by Charlotte Henriette Andreas (1910–1989) in 1947, although she used the name E. glandulosum for E. lebelii. [8] [9]

Its chromosome number is 2n = 20. [4]

There are two subspecies of sticky stork's-bill: ssp. cicutarium is the common one, while ssp. marcuccii(Parl.) Guitt. is restricted to Corsica, Italy, Spain and Morocco. [10]

It occasionally crosses with common stork's-bill to produce the hybrid Erodium x anaristatumAndreas, which is a vigorous plant that has showy flowers but produces few fruits, suggesting that it is sterile. It is usually found as isolated plants in places where both parents are present. The hybrid has a chromosome number of 2n = 30 (the other parent has 40 chromosomes). [11] [6]

The name of the genus, Erodium, is derived from the Ancient Greek word for a heron or egret, ἐρῳδιός (erodios), because of the shape of the fruits. [12] The specific epithet was given in honour of the French explorer and botanist Jacques Eugène Lebel. [3]

Distribution and status

Sticky stork's-bill is almost entirely restricted to western Europe, where it grows mainly on the Atlantic coast from Germany to Spain, and on the Mediterranean coast in Italy, Corsica, mainland France and Spain. It probably extends to Morocco in North Africa, but there are taxonomic uncertainties about the more southerly plants. If Erodium lebelii is really conspecific with E. aethiopicum, then it also occurs along the whole Mediterranean coast of Africa. [7]

Its conservation status globally has not been assessed, [13] but in Britain and France it is listed as LC (least concern), [14] [1] although in Picardy, towards the northern edge of its range, it is classed as VU (vulnerable). In Germany it is classed as "not threatened." [15]

In some counties in Britain sticky stork's-bill is considered to be an axiophyte, or species typical of valuable habitats, [16] but in others, such as Cardiganshire, it is considered to be a casual that does not persist. [17]

Habitat and ecology

Typical habitat is in loose sand on coastal dunes. Erodium lebelii habitat.jpg
Typical habitat is in loose sand on coastal dunes.

The native habitat of sticky stork's-bill is on loose sand dunes by the sea. It is mesotrophic, calcifugous and xerophilic. [5]

Its Ellenberg values are L = 8, F = 4, R = 7, N = 2, and S = 0, which suggests that it favours brightly lit places with low moisture, circumneutral acidity, low fertility, and low salinity. [18]

Sticky stork's-bill is an annual. [3]

There are as yet no known associations between insects and sticky stork's-bill. [19]

Related Research Articles

<i>Malva moschata</i> Species of flowering plant

Malva moschata, the musk mallow or musk-mallow, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae, native to Europe and southwestern Asia, from Spain north to the British Isles and Poland, and east to southern Russia and Turkey. Growing to 60 cm (24 in) tall, it is a herbaceous perennial with hairy stems and foliage, and pink saucer-shaped flowers in summer.

<i>Parietaria judaica</i> Species of flowering plant

Parietaria judaica, spreading pellitory, is a species of herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Urticaceae. It is native to the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, and is widely established worldwide as an urban weed. Its pollen is a significant cause of asthma and other allergies in warmer countries, but it is also valued as a contributor to biodiversity in polluted cities and it has been used as a medicinal herb.

<i>Erodium</i> Genus of flowering plants

Erodium is a genus of flowering plants in the botanical family Geraniaceae. The genus includes about 120 species with a subcosmopolitan distribution, native to Europe, North Africa, Asia, Australia, and more locally in North and South America. They are perennials, annuals, or subshrubs, with five-petalled flowers in shades of white, pink, and purple, that strongly resemble the better-known Geranium (crane's-bills). In English-speaking areas of Europe, the species are known as stork's-bills. In North America they are known as filarees or heron's bill.

<i>Erodium cicutarium</i> Species of flowering plant

Erodium cicutarium, also known as common stork's-bill, redstem filaree, redstem stork's bill or pinweed, is a herbaceous annual – or in warm climates, biennial – member of the family Geraniaceae of flowering plants. It is native to Macaronesia, temperate Eurasia and north and northeast Africa, and was introduced to North America in the eighteenth century, where it has since become naturalized, particularly of the deserts and arid grasslands of the southwestern United States.

<i>Cerastium glomeratum</i> Species of flowering plant in the pink family Caryophyllaceae

Cerastium glomeratum is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common names sticky mouse-ear chickweed and clammy chickweed. It is native to Europe, Macaronesia to Assam but is known on most continents as an introduced species. It grows in many types of habitat. The blooming period is February, March, April, and May.

<i>Montia fontana</i> Species of flowering plant

Montia fontana, blinks is a herbaceous annual to perennial plant that grows in freshwater springs in upland regions, and in seasonally damp acid grassland in the lowlands. It is widespread throughout the world, except in southern Asia. It is rather variable in morphology, which is reflected in a complex history of taxonomy. Currently, there are three accepted subspecies which are defined largely by the appearance of the seedcoat. It is edible and consumed as a salad in some areas, but is otherwise of minimal economic impact. Because of its association with clean water habitats, it is often viewed as a species of conservation value.

<i>Epilobium hirsutum</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Onagraceae

Epilobium hirsutum is a flowering plant belonging to the willowherb genus Epilobium in the family Onagraceae. It is commonly known as the great willowherb, great hairy willowherb or hairy willowherb. Local names include codlins-and-cream, apple-pie and cherry-pie.

<i>Erodium malacoides</i> Species of flowering plant

Erodium malacoides is a species of flowering plant in the geranium family known by the common names Mediterranean stork's bill, soft stork's-bill and oval heron's bill. This is an annual or biennial herb which is native to much of Eurasia and North Africa but can be found on most continents where it is an introduced species.

<i>Erodium moschatum</i> Species of flowering plant

Erodium moschatum is a species of flowering plant in the geranium family known by the common names musk stork's-bill and whitestem filaree. This is a weedy annual or biennial herb which is native to much of Eurasia and North Africa but can be found on most continents where it is an introduced species.

<i>Alyssum alyssoides</i> Species of flowering plant in the cabbage family Brassicaceae

Alyssum alyssoides is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by several common names, including pale madwort and yellow alyssum. It is native to Eurasia, but it can be found throughout much of the temperate world as an introduced species and sometimes a common weed. For example, it has been noted as a weed in the western United States. It often appears in arable fields, sandy tracks, pits, and docks.

<i>Cerastium fontanum</i> Species of flowering plant

Cerastium fontanum, also called mouse-ear chickweed, common mouse-ear, or starweed, is a species of mat-forming perennial or, rarely, annual plant. It is native to Europe but introduced elsewhere. Its identifying characteristics are tear-shaped leaves growing opposite one another in a star pattern, hairy leaves, and small white flowers. Mouse-ear chickweed typically grows to 4"-8" tall and spreads horizontally along the ground via the formation of roots wherever the stem falls over and contacts the ground.

<i>Erodium cygnorum</i> Species of plant

Erodium cygnorum is a species of herb native to Australia.

Pseudobahia peirsonii is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names San Joaquin adobe sunburst and Tulare pseudobahia. It is endemic to California, where it is known from a few mostly small occurrences along the southeastern side of the San Joaquin Valley where it rises into the Sierra Nevada foothills. It grows in grassland and oak woodland habitat. It prefers heavy adobe clay soils. The plant became a federally listed threatened of the United States in 1997.

<i>Luzula pilosa</i> Species of flowering plant in the rush family Juncaceae

Luzula pilosa is a species of flowering plant in the rush family Juncaceae with the common name hairy wood-rush. The plant is native to northern Europe and western Asia.

<i>Stellaria apetala</i> Species of flowering plant in the carnation family Caryophyllaceae

Stellaria apetala, lesser chickweed, is an annual herbaceous plant in the flowering plant family Caryophyllaceae. It occurs in short, sandy grassland by the sea and, less often, in similar habitat inland. It is native to Europe and is well established as an introduced species worldwide.

<i>Solanum villosum</i> Species of plant

Solanum villosum, the hairy nightshade, red nightshade or woolly nightshade, is a sprawling annual weed in Europe, western Asia, northern Africa and is also naturalized in Australia and North America.

<i>Ranunculus tripartitus</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae

Ranunculus tripartitus is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, which grows in pools and muddy hollows in coastal parts of Europe, North Africa and West Asia. It is rare and endangered throughout its range, and is considered to be an indicator of favourable environmental conditions.

<i>Oenanthe lachenalii</i> Species of flowering plant

Oenanthe lachenalii, parsley water-dropwort, is a flowering plant in the carrot family, which is native to Europe and parts of North Africa. It is a declining plant of coastal wetlands.

<i>Oenanthe silaifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Oenanthe silaifolia, narrow-leaved water-dropwort, is a flowering plant in the carrot family, which is native to Europe and adjacent parts of Asia and North Africa. It is an uncommon plant of water-meadows and wetlands.

<i>Erodium maritimum</i> Species of flowering plant

Erodium maritimum, the sea stork's-bill, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the family Geraniaceae. It occurs on free-draining stony soils close to the sea and, very occasionally, in similar situations inland. Most of the world's population occurs in southern Britain and Brittany, but it is found in scattered locations around the coast of Europe as far as Corsica and Italy, and south to the Canary Isles.

References

  1. 1 2 "Erodium lebelii' Jord". Inventaire National du Patrimoine Naturel. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  2. ↑ Rose, Francis (2006). The Wild Flower Key. London: Frederick Warne. ISBN   978-0-7232-5175-0.
  3. 1 2 3 Sell, Peter; Murrell, Gina (2009). Flora of Great Britain and Ireland, vol. 3. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  4. 1 2 3 Stace, C.A. (2019). New Flora of the British Isles (4th ed.). Suffolk: C&M Floristics. ISBN   978-1-5272-2630-2.
  5. 1 2 Guillemot, Vincent (2023). Flore du Massif armoricain et ses marges (in French). Mèze: Editions Biotope. ISBN   978-2-36662-301-7.
  6. 1 2 Stace, C.A.; Preston, C.D.; Pearman, D.A. (2015). Hybrid Flora of the British Isles. Bristol: Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland.
  7. 1 2 "Erodium lebelii Jord". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  8. ↑ Benoit, P.M. (1967). "Erodium cicutarium agg". Proceedings of the Botanical Society of the British Isles. 6: 364–366.
  9. ↑ Andreas, Ch.H. (1947). "De inheemsche Erodia van Nederland". Nederlandsch Kruidkundig Archief. Serie 3. 54 (1): 138–229.
  10. ↑ "Erodium lebelii subsp. marcuccii (Parl.) Guitt. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  11. ↑ Stace, C.A. (1975). Hybridization and the Flora of the British Isles. London: Academic Press. ISBN   0-12-661650-7.
  12. ↑ Leighton, W.A. (1841). A Flora of Shropshire. London: John van Voorst.
  13. ↑ "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species" . Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  14. ↑ "PlantAtlas". plantatlas2020.org. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  15. ↑ Internetredaktion, Redaktion: BMBF LS5. "Detailseite - Red List Centre Rote-Liste-Zentrum". Red List Centre - Red List Centre Rote-Liste-Zentrum. Retrieved 2024-05-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ↑ "Axiophytes – Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland" . Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  17. ↑ Chater, A.O. (2010). Flora of Cardiganshire. Aberystwyth: A.O. Chater. ISBN   9-780956-575005.
  18. ↑ Hill, M.O.; Mountford, J.O.; Roy, D.B.; Bunce, R.G.H. (1999). Ellenberg's indicator values for British plants. ECOFACT Volume 2. Technical Annex (PDF). Institute of Terrestrial Ecology. ISBN   1870393481 . Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  19. ↑ "BRC - Database of Insects and their Food Plants". dbif.brc.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.