Erodium hirtum, (Forskal) Willd.

34. E. hirtum (Forskâl) Willd. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 3: 632 (1800).

Perennial; roots with globose tubers up to 1 -5 cm. Stems 10-30 cm, ascending to erect, with patent, white hairs. Leaves up to 6 cm, deeply pinnatisect; lobes incise-dentate or pinnatifid; petiole at least as long as lamina in basal leaves, very short in upper cauline leaves. Umbels with 3-5 flowers; bracts broadly ovate, pale, scarious, hairy; pedicels 10-20 mm, stiffly deflexed in fruit. Sepals 6-7 mm, with short mucro; petals c. 8 mm, pale pink. Mericarps c. 5 mm; apical pits small, with a conspicuous furrow at the base. Beak (50-)80-100 mm, not spirally twisted, with numerous long, brown or yellow hairs on the inner side. Sandy hillsides. S.E. Kriti (near Ierapetra)', probably introduced. [*Cr.] (N. Africa, E. Mediterranean region.) The only representative in Europe of the section Piumosa Boiss. , distinguished by the persistently straight beak to the mericarps, furnished with long, yellowish hairs on its inner side.