Erodium cicutarium

(L.) L'Hér. (1789)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Geraniales Family: Geraniaceae Genus: Erodium

alfilaria, pin clover

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Annual herbs.

Stems: Stems decumbent, slender, 1–5 dm long, strigillose and glandular pubescent.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves compound (pinnate). Opposite. Blades 3–10 cm long, leaflets pinnatifid. Margins highly dissected. Petiolate or sessile. Stipules lanceolate.

Flowers: Flowers several in axillary umbels; peduncles 50–150 mm long. Flowers bisexual (perfect), aillary, pedicels 8–18 mm long. Calyx of 5 sepals, distinct or sometimes connate at base, rarely forming a tube, 2–6 mm long, apex mucronate, with 1–2 white bristles. Corolla of 5 petals, sometimes upper ones slightly smaller than others, distinct, nectary glands alternate with the petals, rose lavender, 5–7 mm long. Stamens 5, in whorls, opposite the sepals, alternate with 5 scale-like staminodes, distinct or connate at base; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior or nearly so, 5-carpellate, carpels connate around a central column to form a compound ovary with as many cells, fertile portion a lobed ring at base of stylar column, placentation axile; ovules usually 2 per cell, anatropous to campylotropous, usually pendulous; styles 3–5, slender and beak-like, sometimes narrowed below apex, stylar awn pubescent on inner surface, becoming tightly coiled when detached from the central stylar column at maturity, stylar column 2–5 cm long; stigmas slender and dry, rarely capitate.

Fruit: Septicidal and elastically dehiscent capsules separating into as many segments as carpels; a portion of the style splitting off from remainder of stylar column and forming an awn that recurves upward from the persistent central column; usually remaining attached to apex; sometimes the awn also becomes spirally coiled; awn usually hygroscopic; carpel bodies 4–5 mm long; stiffly pubescent; the apical portion glabrous. Seeds 1–2 per segment; smooth; dull brown; ellipsoid; 2–3 mm long; endosperm usually scanty or absent; rarely copious and oily.

Ploidy: 2n = 20; 30–40; 42; 48; 54

Habitat: naturalized in relatively dry; disturbed sites.

Elevation Range: 0–3,100 m.

Historical Distribution

Synonyms (119)

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Extirpated
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean
Other Animals

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: W.Aiton, Hort. Kew. 2: 414 (1789)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:727 (K, O, Mo, L, M, H); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:184 (last spm. from O in 1909, now recollected in Kapolei in 2024); Munro 539 BISH (L†, 1930)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Erodium cicutarium Waimea Canyon State Park. Kukui Trail, ca. 50yds past its junction with the Iliau Loop. Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 1027 Kauai BISH 1985-03-19
2 Erodium cicutarium Hamakua Dist.; Pohakuloa Training Area, along Saddle Road Between the 30 & 45 mile markers & within 60' of road. Preserved_Specimen Funk, E.J. Hawaii BISH 1990-12-13
3 Erodium cicutarium East Maui, Haleakala Crater, Honokahua, 3/4 mi W of Oili Puu Preserved_Specimen Olson, G.E. 14 Maui BISH 1936-12-01
4 Erodium cicutarium S. Kohala, Nohonaohae cinder cone Common herb in pasture near cone. Preserved_Specimen Cuddihy, L.W. 233 Hawaii BISH 1980-03-19
5 Erodium cicutarium N. Hilo, Humuula, sheep station, pasture land, Preserved_Specimen Ewart III, G.R. 161 Hawaii BISH 1932-05-02
6 Erodium cicutarium Kamoku Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 266 Lanai BISH 1913-12-20
7 Erodium cicutarium Along main road 20 miles from Waimea toward Kona, Hawaii Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 30235 Hawaii BISH 1926-08-18
8 Erodium cicutarium Puu Oo Ranch Preserved_Specimen Schutte Hawaii BISH 1921-05-01
9 Erodium cicutarium Mauna Kea Preserved_Specimen Christ, J.H. Hawaii BISH 1957-01-01
10 Erodium cicutarium Mauna Kea, slope above Humuula, Preserved_Specimen Bryan Jr., E.H. Hawaii BISH 1935-07-30
11 Erodium cicutarium Kalihi Valley Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH 2009-04-02
12 Erodium cicutarium Kamoku Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 285 Lanai BISH 1913-12-20
13 Erodium cicutarium Waiakoa Preserved_Specimen Krauss, N.L.H. 886 Maui BISH 1963-04-21
14 Erodium cicutarium Puu Kea. east slope of Mauna Kea, Hamakua District OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 7/12/2007
15 Erodium cicutarium Mauna Kea OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
16 Erodium cicutarium O????ahu, Honolulu, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Kauai HAPI 7/15/2007
17 Erodium cicutarium Kapolei. Ca 15 m NW of FDR Ave, near intersection with Coral Sea Rd Growing adjacent to abandoned railroad tracks in Pithecellobium dulce-Cenchrus ciliaris dominated scrub, dry Preserved_Specimen Ross, M.C. 1985 Oahu BISH 2024-03-11
18 Erodium cicutarium Waimea, Hawaii ranch Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 30234 Hawaii BISH 1926-08-13
19 Erodium cicutarium Kanepuu Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 539 Lanai BISH 1930-04-20
20 Erodium cicutarium Puu Kea. east slope of Mauna Kea, Hamakua District On rocky ash substrate in area with sparse vegetation of Mamane trees, mullein, and exotic grasses. Preserved_Specimen Cuddihy, L.W. 831 Hawaii BISH 1981-07-21
21 Erodium cicutarium Hoolehua, Molokai, T.H Locally common on bare soil near school. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 18419 Molokai BISH 1928-04-03
22 Erodium cicutarium Keokea common in pasture Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1817 Maui BISH 1937-04-13
23 Erodium cicutarium N. Hilo Dist. Humuula, sheep station, Mauna Kea Occasional in open pasture Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1599 Hawaii BISH 1936-09-12
24 Erodium cicutarium N Kona Distr. Keauhou 2 AHU. Tr. 53(55); E slopes of Hualalai; along Judd Trail; in crack Dry exotic grassland with native and exotic shrubs and scattered native trees. Preserved_Specimen Warshauer, F.R. 2088 Hawaii BISH 1978-08-10
25 Erodium cicutarium About 2km WSW of Kalani, Moomomi sand strip, directly S of Kaa, Kaluakoi on calcareous sand. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 29565 Molokai BISH 1948-02-22
26 Erodium cicutarium Humuula, sheep station, N. Hilo common in dry situations Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 2330 Hawaii BISH 1938-06-13
27 Erodium cicutarium NW of Puu Luahine Locally common on roadside in pasture. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 40904 Molokai BISH 2009-04-01
28 Erodium cicutarium Kalahaku Overlook, W crater rim Very open, dry, rocky and sandy site at lookout area view. Preserved_Specimen Higashino, P.K. 699 Maui BISH 1975-06-13
29 Erodium cicutarium Waimea Canyon State Park. Kukui Trail, ca. 50yds past its junction with the Iliau Loop. Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 1027 Kauai BISH 1985-03-19
30 Erodium cicutarium Hamakua Dist.; Pohakuloa Training Area, along Saddle Road Between the 30 & 45 mile markers & within 60' of road. Preserved_Specimen Funk, E.J. Hawaii BISH 1990-12-13
31 Erodium cicutarium East Maui, Haleakala Crater, Honokahua, 3/4 mi W of Oili Puu Preserved_Specimen Olson, G.E. 14 Maui BISH 1936-12-01
32 Erodium cicutarium S. Kohala, Nohonaohae cinder cone Common herb in pasture near cone. Preserved_Specimen Cuddihy, L.W. 233 Hawaii BISH 1980-03-19
33 Erodium cicutarium N. Hilo, Humuula, sheep station, pasture land, Preserved_Specimen Ewart III, G.R. 161 Hawaii BISH 1932-05-02
34 Erodium cicutarium Kamoku Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 266 Lanai BISH 1913-12-20
35 Erodium cicutarium Along main road 20 miles from Waimea toward Kona, Hawaii Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 30235 Hawaii BISH 1926-08-18
36 Erodium cicutarium Puu Oo Ranch Preserved_Specimen Schutte Hawaii BISH 1921-05-01
37 Erodium cicutarium Mauna Kea Preserved_Specimen Christ, J.H. Hawaii BISH 1957-01-01
38 Erodium cicutarium Mauna Kea, slope above Humuula, Preserved_Specimen Bryan Jr., E.H. Hawaii BISH 1935-07-30
39 Erodium cicutarium Kalihi Valley Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH 2009-04-02
40 Erodium cicutarium Kamoku Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 285 Lanai BISH 1913-12-20
41 Erodium cicutarium Waiakoa Preserved_Specimen Krauss, N.L.H. 886 Maui BISH 1963-04-21
42 Erodium cicutarium Puu Kea. east slope of Mauna Kea, Hamakua District OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 7/12/2007
43 Erodium cicutarium Mauna Kea OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
44 Erodium cicutarium O????ahu, Honolulu, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Kauai HAPI 7/15/2007
45 Erodium cicutarium Kapolei. Ca 15 m NW of FDR Ave, near intersection with Coral Sea Rd Growing adjacent to abandoned railroad tracks in Pithecellobium dulce-Cenchrus ciliaris dominated scrub, dry Preserved_Specimen Ross, M.C. 1985 Oahu BISH 2024-03-11
46 Erodium cicutarium Waimea, Hawaii ranch Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 30234 Hawaii BISH 1926-08-13
47 Erodium cicutarium Kanepuu Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 539 Lanai BISH 1930-04-20
48 Erodium cicutarium Puu Kea. east slope of Mauna Kea, Hamakua District On rocky ash substrate in area with sparse vegetation of Mamane trees, mullein, and exotic grasses. Preserved_Specimen Cuddihy, L.W. 831 Hawaii BISH 1981-07-21
49 Erodium cicutarium Hoolehua, Molokai, T.H Locally common on bare soil near school. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 18419 Molokai BISH 1928-04-03
50 Erodium cicutarium Keokea common in pasture Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1817 Maui BISH 1937-04-13
51 Erodium cicutarium N. Hilo Dist. Humuula, sheep station, Mauna Kea Occasional in open pasture Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1599 Hawaii BISH 1936-09-12
52 Erodium cicutarium N Kona Distr. Keauhou 2 AHU. Tr. 53(55); E slopes of Hualalai; along Judd Trail; in crack Dry exotic grassland with native and exotic shrubs and scattered native trees. Preserved_Specimen Warshauer, F.R. 2088 Hawaii BISH 1978-08-10
53 Erodium cicutarium About 2km WSW of Kalani, Moomomi sand strip, directly S of Kaa, Kaluakoi on calcareous sand. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 29565 Molokai BISH 1948-02-22
54 Erodium cicutarium Humuula, sheep station, N. Hilo common in dry situations Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 2330 Hawaii BISH 1938-06-13
55 Erodium cicutarium NW of Puu Luahine Locally common on roadside in pasture. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 40904 Molokai BISH 2009-04-01
56 Erodium cicutarium Kalahaku Overlook, W crater rim Very open, dry, rocky and sandy site at lookout area view. Preserved_Specimen Higashino, P.K. 699 Maui BISH 1975-06-13
57 Erodium cicutarium Waimea Canyon State Park. Kukui Trail, ca. 50yds past its junction with the Iliau Loop. Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 1027 Kauai BISH 1985-03-19
58 Erodium cicutarium Hamakua Dist.; Pohakuloa Training Area, along Saddle Road Between the 30 & 45 mile markers & within 60' of road. Preserved_Specimen Funk, E.J. Hawaii BISH 1990-12-13
59 Erodium cicutarium East Maui, Haleakala Crater, Honokahua, 3/4 mi W of Oili Puu Preserved_Specimen Olson, G.E. 14 Maui BISH 1936-12-01
60 Erodium cicutarium S. Kohala, Nohonaohae cinder cone Common herb in pasture near cone. Preserved_Specimen Cuddihy, L.W. 233 Hawaii BISH 1980-03-19
61 Erodium cicutarium N. Hilo, Humuula, sheep station, pasture land, Preserved_Specimen Ewart III, G.R. 161 Hawaii BISH 1932-05-02
62 Erodium cicutarium Kamoku Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 266 Lanai BISH 1913-12-20
63 Erodium cicutarium Along main road 20 miles from Waimea toward Kona, Hawaii Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 30235 Hawaii BISH 1926-08-18
64 Erodium cicutarium Puu Oo Ranch Preserved_Specimen Schutte Hawaii BISH 1921-05-01
65 Erodium cicutarium Mauna Kea Preserved_Specimen Christ, J.H. Hawaii BISH 1957-01-01
66 Erodium cicutarium Mauna Kea, slope above Humuula, Preserved_Specimen Bryan Jr., E.H. Hawaii BISH 1935-07-30
67 Erodium cicutarium Kalihi Valley Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH 2009-04-02
68 Erodium cicutarium Kamoku Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 285 Lanai BISH 1913-12-20
69 Erodium cicutarium Waiakoa Preserved_Specimen Krauss, N.L.H. 886 Maui BISH 1963-04-21
70 Erodium cicutarium Puu Kea. east slope of Mauna Kea, Hamakua District OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 7/12/2007
71 Erodium cicutarium Mauna Kea OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
72 Erodium cicutarium O????ahu, Honolulu, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Kauai HAPI 7/15/2007
73 Erodium cicutarium Kapolei. Ca 15 m NW of FDR Ave, near intersection with Coral Sea Rd Growing adjacent to abandoned railroad tracks in Pithecellobium dulce-Cenchrus ciliaris dominated scrub, dry Preserved_Specimen Ross, M.C. 1985 Oahu BISH 2024-03-11
74 Erodium cicutarium Waimea, Hawaii ranch Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 30234 Hawaii BISH 1926-08-13
75 Erodium cicutarium Kanepuu Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 539 Lanai BISH 1930-04-20
76 Erodium cicutarium Puu Kea. east slope of Mauna Kea, Hamakua District On rocky ash substrate in area with sparse vegetation of Mamane trees, mullein, and exotic grasses. Preserved_Specimen Cuddihy, L.W. 831 Hawaii BISH 1981-07-21
77 Erodium cicutarium Hoolehua, Molokai, T.H Locally common on bare soil near school. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 18419 Molokai BISH 1928-04-03
78 Erodium cicutarium Keokea common in pasture Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1817 Maui BISH 1937-04-13
79 Erodium cicutarium N. Hilo Dist. Humuula, sheep station, Mauna Kea Occasional in open pasture Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1599 Hawaii BISH 1936-09-12
80 Erodium cicutarium N Kona Distr. Keauhou 2 AHU. Tr. 53(55); E slopes of Hualalai; along Judd Trail; in crack Dry exotic grassland with native and exotic shrubs and scattered native trees. Preserved_Specimen Warshauer, F.R. 2088 Hawaii BISH 1978-08-10
81 Erodium cicutarium About 2km WSW of Kalani, Moomomi sand strip, directly S of Kaa, Kaluakoi on calcareous sand. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 29565 Molokai BISH 1948-02-22
82 Erodium cicutarium Humuula, sheep station, N. Hilo common in dry situations Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 2330 Hawaii BISH 1938-06-13
83 Erodium cicutarium NW of Puu Luahine Locally common on roadside in pasture. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 40904 Molokai BISH 2009-04-01
84 Erodium cicutarium Kalahaku Overlook, W crater rim Very open, dry, rocky and sandy site at lookout area view. Preserved_Specimen Higashino, P.K. 699 Maui BISH 1975-06-13