Cranes beak?

[Anonymous]

I have a sample of a plant here and I'm trying to figure out some information about it. The name I was given was 'crane's beak,' but I have been unable to find any information on the plant. The plant has little seed pods that peel away from the main stalk of the plan in a spiral motion to form a corkscrew-like shape and then break off. They are about a cm in length and I think the sample was from the coastal sand dunes in Southern California. If anyone has any information, I would love the help! My email is cpichette@willamette.edu</p>

[Anonymous]

Maybe the plant you have is 'crane's bill' - which would refer to either a Geranium or an Erodium. They both have small, magenta flowers, followed by long, pointed seed pods that twist when ripe.

Neither of these plants is native to coastal California, and probably not native to Oregon either. They are related to a noxious weed called 'filaree'.

Lori</p>