Erodium L'Her. ex Aiton

Annual, biennial or perennial herbs, sometimes aromatic. Stems usually well-developed, sometimes forming a short and ± woody caulorrhiza. Lvs in basal rosettes, sometimes cauline as well, mostly opposite, stipulate, pinnately lobed to pinnate or occasionally undivided, usually longer than wide. Fls usually in bracteate umbels, sometimes solitary, actinomorphic or nearly so. Sepals 5, imbricate, spurless. Petals 5, ± clawed. Fertile stamens 5, antisepalous; staminodes 5, usually of similar length to stamens but lacking anthers. Nectar glands 5. Ovary 5-lobed with long style; ovules 2 per loculus. Fr. with long beak, outer part of the style separating into 5 long awns usually remaining attached to the mericarps and becoming spirally twisted. Mericarps 1-seeded, with 2 apical pits.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]