Erodium cicutarium subspecies cicutarium

Ερωδιός ο κωνιόμορφος

Etymology of Erodium cicutarium subspecies cicutarium: The name of the genus, "Erodium", derives from the Ancient Greek "ἐρωδιός" [erodios], meaning "heron", due to the long beak on the fruit that gives rise to some of its common names such as storksbill and cranesbill, a meaning reinforced by the family name Geranium, the derivation of which is "γερανός" [yeranos or geranos], meaning "crane". Latin "cicutarium" means "resembling the leaves of Cicuta".

At least nine Erodium species and subspecies/kinds have been recognized in Cypriot nature so far.

Erodium cicutarium subspecies cicutarium is a common plant in Cyprus. It is an annual plant reaching up to 30 cm tall and up to 50 cm in diameter. Erodium cicutarium subspecies cicutarium exists all-around Cyprus at a low-medium altitude of 200-600 metres, on roadsides, waste ground and stony hills. It blooms between February and June.

How to identify Erodium cicutarium subsp. cicutarium:

Its leaves are pinnate, with distinct leaflets, not pinnatisect, pinnatifid, lobed or entire - this is a feature of only three Erodiums in Cyprus, of moschatum, touchyanum and cicutarium.

Compared to moschatum, its leaflets are deeply pinnatisect, and the carpel-pits are eglandular within, when contrary moschatum has often lobed leaflets but not deeply pinnatisect, and the carpel-pits are glandular-papillose within.

Compared to touchyanum, the mucro of its sepals is terminating in bristle(s), and the carpel-pits are eglandular within. On the contrary, touchyanum's mucro of its sepals is without bristles, and the carpel-pits are glandular within.