GERANIUM FAMILY (Geraniaceae)
CRANE’S BILL STORK’S BILL
Leaves simple or compound; sepals 4-5; petals mostly 5; stamens 5, 10, or 15, more or less united at base; carpels 3-5, prolonged into styles.
Crane’s Bill. Texas Geranium (Geranium texanum) is very much like the Carolina geranium. The small white flowers are inconspicuous, but the seed capsules with their long beaks resembling the crane’s bill are very noticeable. The scientific name is from the Greek meaning “crane.” The Texas geranium differs from the Carolina geranium in having pitted seed and fewer flowers. The cultivated geraniums belong to the Pelargonium group.
Stork’s Bill. Pine Needle (Erodium texanum) has fruits similar to the Texas geranium, but the beaks are much longer, 1-2 in. long. The short-stalked flowers are quite showy while they are open, but they close in the heat of the day. The wine-red petals are marked with delicate purple veins. The low spreading branches are 2-12 in. long. This plant grows on rocky limestone hillsides from Texas to California and blooms in April and May.
Pin-Clover. Filaree. Alfilaria (Erodium cicutarium) has finely-divided, lacy leaves and small pink flowers. It is used in some places as a forage crop.
FLAX FAMILY (Linaceae)
BLUE PRAIRIE FLAX