[Illustration: 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.