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Erodium cicutarium


Erodium cicutarium
Photo Information
Copyright: Oana Otilia Saracutu (oanaotilia) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 311 W: 19 N: 509] (1700)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-06-05
Categories: Flowers
Exposure: f/8, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2009-06-12 8:32
Viewed: 407
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Erodium cicutarium, also known as Redstem filaree, Common Stork's-bill, is an herbaceous annual, and in warm climates a biennial member of the Geranium Family of flowering plants. It is native to the Mediterranean Basin and was introduced to North America in the eighteenth century,[1] where it has since become invasive, particularly of the deserts and arid grasslands of the southwestern United States.[2] The seeds of this annual are a species collected by various species of harvester ants.[3]

The entire plant is edible with a flavor similar to sharp parsley if picked young. The plant is widespread across North America. The plant grows as an annual in the northern half of North America. In the Southern areas of North America, the plant tends to grow as a biennial with a more erect habit and with much larger leaves, flowers and fruits. It flowers from May until August.

It is a hairy, sticky annual. The stems bear bright pink flowers, arranged in loose cluster, and often have dark spots on the bases. The leaves are pinnate and fern-like, and the long seed-pod, shaped very much like the bill of a stork, bursts open in a spiral when ripe, sending the seeds (which have little feathery parachutes attached) into the air.

Common stork's-bill can be found in bare, sandy, grassy places both inland and around the coasts. It is a food plant for the larvae of the Brown Argus butterfly.


Erodium is a genus of the botanical family Geraniaceae. The genus includes about 60 species, for the most part originating in the Mediterranean or Western Asian regions. American species are known as filarees or heron's bill, Eurasian ones are usually called storksbills.

Linnaeus grouped in the same genre (Geranium) the three similar genera Erodium, Geranium, and Pelargonium. The distinction between them was made by Charles Louis L'Héritier de Brutelle based on the number of stamens or anthers: five for Erodium, seven for Pelargonium, and ten for Geranium. However, the three genera have the same characteristics in regard to their fruit, which resemble long bird beaks. That characteristic is the basis for the names: Geranium evokes the crane (Greek geranos), Pelargonium the stork (pelargos) and Erodium the heron (erodios).

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ERCI6

http://www.plant-identification.co.uk/skye/geraniaceae/erodium-cicutarium.htm

http://www.floralimages.co.uk/perodicicut.htm
techranger, eqshannon, Argus, Pitoncle has marked this note useful
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To techranger: lightingoanaotilia 1 06-12 08:38
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Critiques [Translate]

Lighting is so well used here. Beautiful Oana. You have taken this one perfectly. And thanks for the notes too...

Larry

It is said the colour and aroma is calming...well here we have a VERY calming picture. Wonderful contrasting colours to knock out that perfect focal point so well....I see where it may be introduced in teh US...I shall try to find some:-) Good show!
Bob

Hello Oana,
Excellent shot, with a good management of light and nice details. Have a good week-end! Catherine

Hello Oana.

Nice shot, from that Erodium. Good composition, fine shapness, light,color and saturation correct. So, it is a good shot.

Only one point, with your permission : maybe a frame arround the picture will have given more impact to the shot, as you can see with my proposition in the workshop.

All the best and hope to see you another time in treknature.

  • Great 
  • john1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 65 W: 0 N: 85] (356)
  • [2009-06-15 8:46]

hi Oana,

good shoot, very good composition & nice details.
Gretings,
john

Bonjour Oana,
Très agréable publication bien composée sous un excellent angle de prise de vue et une bonne profondeur de champ permettantant d'apprécier la finesse des détails et la délicatesse des couleurs.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

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