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Stork's-bill

©Northeast Wildlife

Stork's-bill

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Scientific name: Erodium cicutarium
The bill-shaped seed pods of Common Stork's-bill explode when ripe, sending the seeds flying! This low-growing plant has pretty pink flowers and can be seen on grasslands and coastal sands.

Top facts

Stats

Height: up to 25cm

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

May to August

About

Common Stork's-bill is hairy plant of dry grasslands, and bare and sandy areas, both inland and around the coast. Its bright pink flowers appear in May and last through the summer until August. The resulting seed pods are shaped like a crane's bill (hence the name) and explode when ripe, sending the seeds, with their feathery 'parachutes', flying.

What to look for

Common Stork's-bill is a sprawling plant, with finely divided, hairy leaves and clusters of pink, five-petalled flowers. It has long, bill-like seed pods.

Where to find

Occurs in various places across the UK, but most common in southern England.

Habitats

Did you know?

Common Stork's-bill is one of the foodplants of the caterpillars of the Brown Argus butterfly.