ALFILARIA. Erodium eicularium, L'Her. Gera niacee. Filaree ; heron's-bill ; pin-grass and pin clover (whence the name alfilaria, from Span ish for pin, in allusion to the pin-like carpels or "seeds"); name spelled also alfileria and alfilerilla. By the Spanish, it is called alfilerilla, the double "I" being pronounced as "y," with accent on the last syllable. Western farmers usually call it " filaree," with accent on the first syllable. Fig. 283.
By J. J. Thornber.
Alfilaria is a small, annual, hairy, slightly viscid, erect or ascending herb, attaining a height of six to eighteen inches, utilized as wild range pasture, and now sometimes grown for hay. The leaves are opposite or alternate, and pinnate, the divisions being finely dissected nearly to the mid-vein. It forms a compact, man y leaved rosette which frequently attains a diameter of ten to twelve inches. The flower parts are in fives, and are produced in axillary, stalked, several-flowered clusters or umbels. The flowers are purple. In f ru it, the five styles of the flower elongate conspicuously, be come hairy on the inside, and at ma turity are dehis cent (that is, are separated into defi nite part s), and twisted spirally, the seeds at the lower ends of the styles becoming in the mean time sharp-pointed at their bases. The plant gen erally has a slight musky odor.
Seven other species of Erodium are found in this country. Two species, introduced from the Medi terranean region—E. mosehatum, known as musk filaree or musk clover, and E. Botrys—are grown in the Pacific coast country. The Texan alfilaria, E. Texanum, is a native species occurring in the southwest.
History.
Alfilaria is a native of the Mediterranean region, where it is regarded, commonly, as a weed. From there it has spread over parts of Europe, Asia and Africa, and North and South America. It was probably introduced by the Spanish into the west ern hemisphere in the sixteenth century, in parts of Mexico and South America, and later in Cal ifornia. From these centers it has gradually spread over large areas. It is probably not a native of the Pacific coast country.
Distribution.
The region of the greatest production of alfilaria is confined to California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. It also extends into Mexico and
Central America and parts of South America. The distribution is affected and to a large extent deter mined by a few climatic features, namely, mild win ter temperatures, fall and winter precipitation, and altitude as influencing, precipitation and tempera ture. Soil conditions are of minor importance, although, in general, alkalinity should be avoided. A rainfall in winter and spring of five to seven inches will serve to produce a good growth of the crop. Two or three inches of rainfall in December, January and February are needed to start the plants. If the moisture conditions are right, growth will take place through the winter, subject to occa sional checks due to unusually low terfiperatures.
Elevation as related to rainfall and temperature is important. Alfilaria does best between 1,500 and 4,500 feet altitude. Above this height the winter temperatures are generally too severe for growth, and below it there is likely to be deficient rainfall.
The fact that alfilaria begins its growth in the late fall or early winter adapts it especially to southwestern United States. At that time the moisture conditions are most satisfactory. The plant rapidly develops the low, spreading rosette, which gets the maximum amount of heat and light. The formation of a deep taproot enables it to withstand drought and to start a rapid growth when the warm days come. In Washington and similar latitudes, alfilaria is usually a spring or summer plant.
Growth.
The seed and seeding.—Heretofore seeding has been accomplished largely by sheep, and the method has been sufficiently successful to be con sidered an effective and reliable system. The seeds are furnished with twisted awns and an abundance of hairs so disposed as to aid them to fasten to and penetrate the furry coats of animals. Sheep, on passing through a field of alfilaria, get more or less covered with the seeds, besides carrying away many between their toes. The incessant trampling serves to plant the seed to the proper depth. The same is true of other stock.