Texas stork's bill
ExplorePlants
Texas stork's bill
Erodium texanum
Texas stork's bill is a small plant with pretty pink flowers. It grows close to the ground and has unique, long seed pods that look like little storks' bills!
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Texas stork's bill is a low-growing plant with deeply lobed, fern-like leaves. It has small, five-petaled flowers, typically pink to purplish-pink, often with darker veins. Its most distinctive feature is its long, pointed, stork-bill-shaped fruit that stands upright.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderGeranialesFamilyGeraniaceaeGenusErodium
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
3
Interesting facts
Its fruit looks just like a stork's long, pointed beak, giving the plant its unique name!
Native American tribes sometimes used the leaves of this plant for traditional remedies.
This plant is a wild cousin to the colorful geraniums you might see in gardens.
You can find its tiny pink flowers blooming even during mild winter days!
Special abilities
Ability
Seed Spear
Texas stork's bill has seeds with a coiled, corkscrew tail that can drill into the soil, planting themselves deep and safe.
Ability
Hitchhiker Seeds
Its seeds are designed to attach to animal fur or feathers, allowing them to travel far and colonize new areas.
Ability
Desert Tough
Texas stork's bill can thrive in dry, disturbed soils where other plants struggle, thanks to its quick lifecycle and robust roots.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 5-30 cm
- Spread
- 5-20 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-1.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late winter to spring
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Honey bee
Apis mellifera
collects nectar and pollen
pollinates
Common eastern bumblebee
Bombus impatiens
helps transfer pollen
eaten by
White-tailed deer
Odocoileus virginianus
forages on its leaves
eaten by
House mouse
Mus musculus
eats its protein-rich seeds
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Biennial
Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Drought Tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't pick plants unless an adult says it's okay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Texas stork's bill?
The easiest way to identify Texas stork's bill is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How tall is Texas stork's bill?
5-30 cm
How wide does Texas stork's bill spread?
5-20 cm
How big are the flowers on Texas stork's bill?
0.5-1.5 cm
When does Texas stork's bill bloom?
Late winter to spring
Is Texas stork's bill edible?
Yes
Is Texas stork's bill toxic?
None
What is Texas stork's bill's lifecycle?
Annual
Snap Map
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