California

California macrophylla (Hooker & Arnott) Aldasoro, C. Navarro, P. Vargas, L. Sáez & Aedo

Annual; stem short

Leaves cordate, renate-serrate, often shallowly lobed, on rather long petioles, young leaves kidney shaped.

Inflorescence: Umbels of 2-5 flowers; bracts small, narrow, pointed; buds large, round; flowers 2-3cm across, usually white but may be rose red or purple

Fruit: Beak 4-5cm; carpel 7mm; awn with rather short dark brown bristles; foveole small, upward facing or nil, or hidden by carpel bristles, but very flat top to carpel.

2n=

Distribution: endemic to North America; California in unsprayed open field and grassy places below 1200m.

Remarks: has been said to have evolved in California over the last 200 years, from E. malacoides? But several characters too different: bristles on awn, foveole, and beak size. It has recently been found the genus California separated from Erodium in the Early Miocene period.