Erodium hesperium (Maire)H.Lindb.

Erodium hesperium is a perennial; with a root system that is not tuberous.

Leaves: Leaves, grey-green, triangular, basal leaves not much lobed, toothed, stem leaves more cut, upper leaves pinnatisect and lanceolate; stipules scarious whitish-pink.

Erodium hesperium
Erodium hesperium; on dunes near the mouth of the river Massa; Photo credit: Philippe Geniez; (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Inflorescence: Annual flowering stems grow out rather horizontally; bracts narrow, free, finely hairy; umbels of 4-8 flowers on thin peduncles, about 3cm across, violet, fading blue-violet; sepals 3-5 nerved, mucro 1-2 mm.

Erodium hesperium
Erodium hesperium; on dunes near the mouth of the river Massa; Photo credit: Philippe Geniez;(CC BY-NC 4.0).

Fruit: rostrum 4-6 cm, with 8-10 turns to the released awn; mericarp has no infrafoveolar furrow. 2n=40

Distribution: endemic to S. W. Morocco, Agadir, in dunes

Erodium hesperium
Erodium hesperium; on dunes near the mouth of the river Massa; Photo credit: Philippe Geniez;(CC BY-NC 4.0).