Flora of New Zealand Series

long storksbill

Annual or possibly biennial herb, often reddish; stems initially 0, later several, to c. 18 cm long, ± prostrate, not musk-scented, with dense retrorse stiff hairs. Petioles of basal and lower cauline lvs 2.5-5.5 cm long. Lamina 6-10 × 2.5-3 cm, oblong-ovate or triangular-ovate, cordate at base, pinnatisect; lateral lobes extending to > 3/4 way to hairy midrib, ± ovate, ciliate, otherwise almost glabrous, acutely lobed; terminal lobe usually larger. Upper cauline lvs somewhat smaller, subsessile or with short petiole; lamina with narrow-oblong, sharply acute lobes. Stipules membranous, triangular-ovate, densely ciliate, silvery, often tinged red, obtuse. Umbels 2-3-flowered; bracts similar to stipules but smaller. Peduncles and pedicels glandular-hairy, somewhat reddish, = to > calyx at anthesis. Sepals 5-7.5 cm long, ovate or elliptic-ovate, with simple and glandular hairs or glabrate; apical mucro dark. Petals 9-10 mm long; pinkish mauve with dark crimson vein in lower part; claw very short; limb obovate. Stamens 3.5-4.5 mm long, much widened in lower 1/2; anthers dark purple. Staminodes narrower and much < stamens. Fr. beak (7)-7.5-8.5-(9) cm long, with antrorse hairs. Mericarps 7-8 mm long, with dense, antrorse, stiff hairs; apical pits eglandular, with 2 prominent furrows beneath.

S.: C. Otago (a number of localities in Upper Clutha Valley).

Mediterranean region 1987

Arable land, especially in lucerne crops.

FL Aug-Oct.

The recent discovery of E. botrys growing in N.Z. is not surprising because seed has occasionally been seen before in imported crop seed. The sp. is an unwelcome addition to our flora because the long beaks of the fr. are likely to stick into the skin and wool of sheep more severely than the common E. cicutarium and E. moschatum. It is known to do this in other countries such as Australia, from whence the N.Z. plants probably originated. Like these other spp., long storksbill is probably poisonous to stock when eaten in quantity.

E. botrys is close to E. brachycarpum (Godron) Thell., a segregate sp. which grows with E. botrys in Australia, Chile and California and is sometimes confused with it. E. brachycarpum has shorter fr. beaks and mericarps; N.Z. plants match E. botrys better in this character and the glabrous mericarp pits subtended by 2 furrows clearly place them under E. botrys.