THE fate of the slender pinweed may not seem important to the average person, but to a naturalist interested in biodiversity, it - and every single species - is an important component of a whole picture.

In addition to the pinweed - of which Mr. Soltesz laughingly said, "Most people probably don't even know it's there" - Cranberry Lake is home to three very old species of bladderwort.

The slender pinweed, for example, is a six-inch-high plant, which was found at Cranberry Lake Preserve in North White Plains during a biodiversity study, and it is noteworthy because, in the county, it exists only at the preserve.

Ongoing research at the University of Colorado suggests that Tordon treatment does not contribute to long-term reductions of exotic species cover and may contribute to recruitment of other invasive species, such as redstem filaree and Japanese brome, which quickly take the place of herbicide-treated diffuse knapweed.

THE fate of the slender pinweed may not seem important to the average person, but to a naturalist interested in biodiversity, it - and every single species - is an important component of a whole picture.

In addition to the pinweed - of which Mr. Soltesz laughingly said, "Most people probably don't even know it's there" - Cranberry Lake is home to three very old species of bladderwort.

Erodium cicutarium, also known as Redstem filaree, Common Stork's-bill, Pinweed is an herbaceous annual, and in warm climates a biennial member of the Geranium Family of flowering plants.

The slender pinweed, for example, is a six-inch-high plant, which was found at Cranberry Lake Preserve in North White Plains during a biodiversity study, and it is noteworthy because, in the county, it exists only at the preserve.

Erodium cicutarium, introduced from Spain to America.

Erodium cicutarium ssp.

Erodium cicutarium (redstem stork's bill) Poultice of chewed root applied to sores and rashes.

Common stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium)

Redstem fialree (Erodium cicutarium) and brome grass (Bromus rubens) are important food items for the squirrels.

The heavy presence of competitive exotic plants in the habitat, including charlock (Sinapis arvensis), stork's bill (Erodium cicutarium), and non-native bromes, is detrimental.

Reported food plants include Potentilla neumanniana, Erodium cicutarium, Teucrium, Artemisia vulgaris, Helianthemum nummularium and Alyssum montanum.

The other diagnostic species are Avena strigosa, Anchusa arvensis, Erodium cicutarium, Galium verum, Thalictrum minus, Tripleurospermum maritimum and Honkenya peploides.

In other habitats Dove's-foot Cranesbill Geranium molle and Common Stork's-bill Erodium cicutarium are used and possibly other Geranium spp.

British NVC community OV5 (Digitaria ischaemum - Erodium cicutarium community) is one of the open habitat communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system.

Erodium cicutarium, also known as Redstem filaree, Common Stork's-bill, Pinweed is an herbaceous annual, and in warm climates a biennial member of the Geranium Family of flowering plants.