What is this weed?

moonpenny

I know this will probably be an impossible task without a photo but I will try and describe untill i can take a pic.

This weed has been growing on very poor soil (bit of garden that i havn't got round to sorting yet) and is now encroaching into lawn.

It is really flat with tough fern like "branches" coming from a strong centre root. When I pull it out it is like a dandelion stem and snaps of. It grows like a big dinnerplate but still stays flat as it gets bigger.
At the moment it has got really tiny purple flowers which I haven't seen before.

Can anyone help identify as I have just spent an hour searching the internet with no luck.

elsien

Watching with interest because I may have similar although I have no idea what it is either. Very deep taproot and plate sized spread?

unrecordings

Do you have a photo ? If so PM me and I'll upload it somewhere, I've a couple of strangers I want to identify as well but not taken the photos yet - today's going to be a good day for that...

ka7e

Herb Robert? https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/common-weeds

[Deleted User]

Dig some out and take it along to a garden nursery, see if one of the more experienced staff can identify it for you.

unrecordings

If it's herb robert, then it has red stems, it's really easy to pull out if you firmly grab it by the heart

-taff

smells nice too...
OK, the only thing I found which vaguely sounds like your is this one
http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/single_weed.php?id=21

Francesanne

We've got plenty of Herb Robert. It easy to pull up but I actually quite like it. Pretty little flowers. Much prefer to dreaded bind weed.

moonpenny

It is definately not Herb Robert or that other one in Ohio.
It has tiny lilac/purple flowers just now and does not grow upright in any way. It is completely flat, as big as a dinner plate and grows out from a centre root.

I did take some pics (put them on tiny pic) but as I am using a tablet I don't know how to "copy and paste" without a mouse!

The nearest weed I found that looks similar is Poison Hemlock eek! but it isn't that as they grow upright and have white flowers.

theoretica

Erodium cicutarium / stork's bill

https://www.ipmimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5415667
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erodium_cicutarium

moonpenny

theoretica wrote: »

Erodium cicutarium / stork's bill

https://www.ipmimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5415667
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erodium_cicutarium

Thank you theoretica I think that's it. Not the first pic but the drawing in the second pic looks like it with the seed heads looking like forks

Putting the different names into Google I think the one that matches best is common storksbill though mine has much thicker stalks and much flatter than most of the pics.

I think there are so many different sorts it is now a case of reading how to get rid of them as they have invaded the lawn now.

Speaking to a friend today who lives 12 miles away with the same problem the last 2 years, about the same time mine started.

Anyway, thanks everyone for your help.