California is a monotypic genus of annual flowering plants in the geranium family, Geraniaceae, within the order Geraniales. It contains a single species, California macrophylla, commonly known as roundleaf stork's bill. The genus was established to accommodate a plant previously classified under Erodium, the stork's bills, but distinguished by sufficient morphological differences to warrant its own genus.
California macrophylla is a low-growing annual herb reaching only a few centimetres in height. It forms a basal patch of slightly lobed, kidney-shaped to rounded leaves on long, slender petioles. The leaves are green on the upper surface and purple on the underside, frequently developing conspicuous red veins as they mature. Flowers are borne in fragile umbels; the petals are white, often tinged pink or purple, and approximately 1 cm long. They detach easily, meaning individual flowers rarely remain pristine for more than a day. The fruit is characteristic of the stork's bill group: a fuzzy-based structure tipped with a long, narrow style that can reach 5 cm in length and serves as a hygroscopic awn aiding seed dispersal.
The genus is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in open habitats including valley grasslands and foothill woodlands.
Distribution
California macrophylla is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Within California it is found in valley grassland and foothill woodland plant communities.
Ecology
A low-growing annual herb of open, seasonally dry habitats — primarily valley grasslands and foothill woodlands of southwestern North America. The fragile flower petals and hygroscopic fruit awn are adapted to its grassland environment.
Taxonomy Notes
California is a monotypic genus established to contain a single species, California macrophylla, which was previously classified in the genus Erodium (stork's bills). It belongs to the family Geraniaceae within the order Geraniales.
