STORKSBILL

The common storksbill, a low growing plant with tiny pink flowers and much-divided leaves, is usually found near the coast but it occurs in short grass in several places in Thornbury.  The flowers only last a day but there are usually lots more on the next day.

 It's name comes from the shape of its long seed capsule, like the head and bill of a stork.

Photo: Biodiversity Explorer

Remarkably when the capsule is ripe it splits into five strips which each curl into a spiral and then cleverly spiral themselves into the ground as the strip expands and contracts with changes in humidity.  And so the seed is sown.