Geraniaceae, Haloragaceae & Hydrophyllaceae

DICOTYLEDONS

GERANIACEAE - Geranium Family

A worldwide family of 600 species, mostly herbs and some shrubs. In Western Australia there are 10 native species and 10 naturalised ones. Erodium (storksbill, erodium, geranium) is a genus of about 60 species, of which seven occur in Western Australia. When green, the fruits form a long beak shape like the head of a stork or heron, that split when ripe so that each seed is attached to a long, spirally-twisted awn. As these 'corkscrews' twist and relax with changing humidity, they drive the seed into the ground. All are found on farmland, especially poorly-managed pastures, and also on wasteland and roadsides. E. aureum is a common weed on loamy soils in the arid zone. It has deeply lobed leaves (not cut to midrib), to 3.5cm long, pink flowers and a fruit beak 5-7cm long. Native to south-west Asia. E. botrys (corkscrews, long storksbill) has leaves without distinct leaflets, purplish petals and the ripe fruit has a beak 8-11cm long. It occurs in pastures and on disturbed ground between Geraldton and Albany. Native to the Mediterranean. (Note, the native E. cygnorum, that is very similar toE. botrys but has palmately-lobed leaves and sky-blue petals, is considered a weed of horticulture at Manjimup.) The closely-related E. brachycarpum (heronsbill), which has a shorter beak, is probably throughout the south-west, but is seldom recorded due to confusion with E. botrys. Native to North Africa.

Erodium botrys, PH

E. cicutarium (common storksbill) has pinnately lobed leaves, cut to the midvein, pink flowers, and the ripe fruit has a beak of 3-4.5cm long. It is found on sandy soils from Dirk Hartog Island to the Nullarbor. Native to the northern temperate zone.

E. cicutarium , RR

E. moschatum (musky storksbill) has pinnately-lobed leaves, cut only half way to the midvein, pink petals and a beak 2.5 to 4cm long. It is found in similar situations to and often growing with E. botrys. Native to the Mediterranean.

E. moschatum , GK

There are three native Geranium species in Western Australia and two introduced, both annuals from Europe. G. dissectum (cut-leaved cranesbill) has leaves palmately divided into narrow lobes, pink flowers with hairy sepals and a hairy fruit. G. molle (dove's-foot cranesbill) is a softly-hairy plant with palmate leaves, pink flowers and a hairless fruit. Both are found on wasteland, roadsides and occasionally on pastures between Perth and Albany.

Geranium molle , RR

The genus Pelargonium includes all garden 'geraniums' and several garden varieties persist around old settlements. P. alchemilloides is a garden escape found in peppermint woodland near Hamelin Bay. It is a prostrate rhizomatous perennial to 5-6m, with soft, hairy leaves and erect heads of white flowers. Native to South Africa.

Pelargonium alchemilloides , GK

P. capitatum (rose pelargonium) is a straggling shrubby perennial, softly hairy, with compact heads of pink flowers. It is a common weed of beach dunes, banksia and tuart woodlands from Cervantes to Esperance. Native to South Africa. Two garden hybrids, P.x asperum and P.x domesticum are naturalised on cliffs of the Swan Estuary in Perth.

P. capitatum , RR

HALORAGACEAE - Milfoil Family

A family of about 100 species of annual and perennial aquatic or terrestrial herbs, rarely shrubs. Mostly found in temperate regions, particularly Australia. Represented in Western Australia by 49 native and one naturalised species. Myriophyllum aquaticum (parrot's feather, Brazilian water milfoil) DP is a vigorous aquatic weed with stems up to 2m long, densely covered with leaves of two kinds in whorls of four to six. The submerged leaves are up to 4cm long, highly dissected and feather-like, with thin segments up to 7cm long. The leaves on the aerial portion are smaller (to 3.5cm long) with short segments up to 0.5cm long. Minute solitary flowers are borne in the leaf bases from spring to autumn. All Australian populations are female. Native to South America, reproducing vegetatively in Australia. Naturalised in freshwater creeks and drains from Perth to Albany. Sixteen native species of Myriophyllum are found in Western Australia - consult specialist references for exact identification.

Myriophyllum aquaticum , RR

HYDROPHYLLACEAE

A small but widespread family of annuals, perennials and shrubs, many of which are cultivated in gardens as ornamentals. Two species naturalised in Western Australia. Phacelia tanacetifoliais ahairy annual with upright branching stems and deeply divided, more or less pinnate leaves. The lilac flowers are in dense spikes coiled like a shepherd's crook. Occasional garden escape on wasteland in the wheatbelt - also recently recorded in canola near Jerramungup. Native to North America. Wigandia urens is a deciduous shrub or small tree to 4m. It has large ovate leaves to 30cm long. The flowers are deep purple with a white throat and are produced in terminal sprays in spring. The whole plant is covered with rusty-brown, irritant hairs. It is spreading slowly from gardens in the Perth area. Native to South America.

Wigandia urens , PH

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A worldwide family of 600 species, mostly herbs and some shrubs. In Western Australia there are 10 native species and 10 naturalised ones. *Erodium* (storksbill, erodium, geranium) is a genus of about 60 species, of which seven occur in Western Australia. When green, the fruits form a long beak shape like the head of a stork or heron, that split when ripe so that each seed is attached to a long, spirally-twisted awn. As these 'corkscrews' twist and relax with changing humidity, they drive the seed into the ground. All are found on farmland, especially poorly-managed pastures, and also on wasteland and roadsides. *E. aureum* is a common weed on loamy soils in the arid zone. It has deeply lobed leaves (not cut to midrib), to 3.5cm long, pink flowers and a fruit beak 5-7cm long. Native to south-west Asia. *E. botrys* (corkscrews, long storksbill) has leaves without distinct leaflets, purplish petals and the ripe fruit has a beak 8-11cm long. It occurs in pastures and on disturbed ground between Geraldton and Albany. Native to the Mediterranean. (Note, the native *E. cygnorum, that is very similar toE. botrys but has palmately-lobed leaves and sky-blue petals, is considered a weed of horticulture at Manjimup.) The closely-related E. brachycarpum* (heronsbill), which has a shorter beak, is probably throughout the south-west, but is seldom recorded due to confusion with E. botrys. Native to North Africa.	*Erodium botrys*, PH
*E. cicutarium* (common storksbill) has pinnately lobed leaves, cut to the midvein, pink flowers, and the ripe fruit has a beak of 3-4.5cm long. It is found on sandy soils from Dirk Hartog Island to the Nullarbor. Native to the northern temperate zone.	*E. cicutarium* , RR
*E. moschatum* (musky storksbill) has pinnately-lobed leaves, cut only half way to the midvein, pink petals and a beak 2.5 to 4cm long. It is found in similar situations to and often growing with E. botrys. Native to the Mediterranean.	*E. moschatum* , GK
There are three native *Geranium* species in Western Australia and two introduced, both annuals from Europe. *G. dissectum* (cut-leaved cranesbill) has leaves palmately divided into narrow lobes, pink flowers with hairy sepals and a hairy fruit. *G. molle* (dove's-foot cranesbill) is a softly-hairy plant with palmate leaves, pink flowers and a hairless fruit. Both are found on wasteland, roadsides and occasionally on pastures between Perth and Albany.	*Geranium* *molle* , RR
The genus *Pelargonium* includes all garden 'geraniums' and several garden varieties persist around old settlements. *P. alchemilloides* is a garden escape found in peppermint woodland near Hamelin Bay. It is a prostrate rhizomatous perennial to 5-6m, with soft, hairy leaves and erect heads of white flowers. Native to South Africa.	*Pelargonium* *alchemilloides* , GK
*P. capitatum* (rose pelargonium) is a straggling shrubby perennial, softly hairy, with compact heads of pink flowers. It is a common weed of beach dunes, banksia and tuart woodlands from Cervantes to Esperance. Native to South Africa. Two garden hybrids, P.x asperum and P.x domesticum are naturalised on cliffs of the Swan Estuary in Perth.	*P. capitatum* , RR