General: Texas Stork's Bill (Erodium texanum) is a branching, very green annual forb with broad, lobed leaves growing from a long petiole. The purple flowers have five petals of unequal lenghts. The seeds have a large head and a very long beak, resembling a stork's head and bill. The stems are reddish. The more common Redstem Stork's Bill, a non-navite weed, has feathery leaves.

Texas Stork's Bill is an uncommon forb growing in desert vegetation communities from the desert into the low mountains. Around Las Vegas, look for this species at Red Rock Canyon and Gold Butte.

Family: Geranium (Geraniaceae).

Other Names: Heron's Bill, Heronbill, Texas Filaree, Texas Stork's Bill

Plant Form: Starts as a basal rosette, then becomes spreading, many branched.

Height: Usually about 6 inches.

Stems: From a central base, spreading along the ground to about 20-inch radius. Hairy or not.

Leaves: Broadly oval to triangular, deeply 3-lobed; to about 2 inches long.

Flowers: Inflorescence: umbel. Flowers purple, radial; 5 petals, unequal lengths (0.3–0.6 in). Prominent yellow anthers.

Seeds: Seed with a long beak (to 3 inches) that can twist and turn, drilling the seed into the soil.

Habitat: Many habitats.

Elevation: To about 5,000 ft.

Distribution: California to Texas, Utah to northern Mexico.

Comments: Unlike Redstem Stork's Bill, this species is native.