Common Name: Stork's Bill

General Information

Erodium cicutarium is an erect to decumbent, annual plant producing numerous stems usually 10 - 15cm tall, occasionally to 40cm[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Throughout temperate Eurasia, but absent from Mongolia; N. Africa - Morocco to Egypt.

Habitat

Sandy dunes, grassland, arable land, waste areas, roadsides, railway embankments etc, usually near the sea[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Bees, Beetles, Lepidoptera, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

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[]. Plants are likely to be resistant to maritime exposure[].
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[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked as a potherb[, , , , ]. Harvested before the plant flowers[], they are tasty and nutritious[]. The leaves are added to salads, sandwiches, soups etc[], they can be used in recipes that call for leaves of beet, plantain, sow thistle or amaranth[].

Young stems - raw[].

Root - chewed by children as a gum[].

Medicinal

The whole plant is astringent and haemostatic{9, , ]. It has been used in the treatment of uterine and other bleeding[]. The root and leaves have been eaten by nursing mothers to increase the flow of milk[].
Externally, the plant has been used as a wash on animal bites, skin infections etc[].

A tea made from the leaves is diaphoretic and diuretic[]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of typhoid fever[]. The leaves are soaked in water and used as a bath for the treatment of rheumatism[].

A poultice of the chewed root has been applied to sores and rashes[].

The seeds contain vitamin K, a poultice of them is applied to gouty typhus[].

Other Uses

A green dye is obtained from the whole plant. It does not require a mordant[].

The remnants of the styles are very hygroscopic, they can be used in hygrometers and as weather indicators[, ].

The dried plant powder has been mixed with watermelon seeds during storage and planting in order to prevent watermelon diseases[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ as soon as the seed is ripe in the late summer. The seed can also be sown in situ in late spring[]. Germination usually takes place within 3 weeks[].