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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Erodium moschatum is a ANNUAL/BIENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:

Leaves - raw or cooked[161, 177]. Added to salads or used as a potherb[183].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Astringent Dysentery Febrifuge

The plant is febrifuge[240]. A tincture of the plant is used in the treatment of dysentery[240].

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye

A green dye can be obtained from the whole plant. It does not require a mordant[168].

Special Uses

Scented Plants

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a sunny well-drained position and a limy soil or at least one that is not acid[1]. The bruised leaves emit a strong scent of musk[245].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow in situ as soon as the seed is ripe in the late summer. The seed can also be sown in situ in late spring[1]. It usually germinates readily[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Cyprus, Egypt (Sinai), Iran, Iraq (north), Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey EUROPE: Czech Republic, Netherlands, Belarus, Ukraine (Kharkiv), Albania, Greece (incl. Crete), Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Slovenia, Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Spain (Canarias), Portugal (Madeira Islands), Algeria (north), Egypt (north), Libya (north), Morocco, Tunisia

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Erodium cicutarium	Stork's Bill, Redstem stork's bill	Annual	0.6	0-0	LMH	N	M	3	2	2
Erodium cicutarium bipinnatum		Annual/Biennial	0.0	-	LMH	N	M	2	0	1
Erodium crinitum	Crowfoot	Annual	0.0	-	LMH	N	M	1	0
Erodium hirtum		Perennial	0.3	-	LMH	N	DM	1	0	1
Erodium jacquinianum		Annual/Biennial	0.0	-	LM	N	DM	1	0	1
Erodium malacoides	Oval Heron's Bill	Annual/Biennial	0.0	-	LM	N	DM	2	0	1
Erodium stephanianum		Annual	0.6	-	LM	N	DM	0	2	1

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Expert comment

Author

(L.)L'Hér.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment


Mike Johnson (B.Eng & Hort Cert IV)	Sat Jun 2 2007

Burbidge NT & Grey M 1970 "Flora of the ACT" ANU Press, Canberra report E. moschatum as widely naturalised in S and E Australia and Tasmania, as well as the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Local name quoted is "Musky Crowfoot", More generally Erodium spp. are "Storksbills" in Australia. E.m is one of five intoduced and one native Erodium in ACT.

Erodium moschatum - (L.)L'Hér.