[4] Common stork's-bill is a perennial monoecious herb which typically grows in rosettes pressed flat to the ground, with a deep tap root that allows it to survive through the summer on dry soils.

It can develop stems up to 60 cm long which are sometimes red and sometimes green, and may be erect or prostrate, and have simple or glandular hairs which become more abundant towards the top.

The leaves are arranged in a basal rosette at the beginning of the year, later occurring in opposite pairs along the stem.

They are pinnate, almost twice-pinnate as each leaflet is deeply toothed or divided more than halfway to the midrib, and the whole leaf can vary in size from 2–20 cm long, either with a petiole or not.

Erodium cicutarium seed uses self-dispersal mechanisms to spread away from the maternal plant and also reach a good germination site to increase fitness.

With sufficient elastic energy the shape of the awns changes from straight to helical, causing them to burst away from the maternal plants, bringing the seeds with them.

The energy storage capacity of the seeds is determined by the level of hydration, suggesting a role of turgor pressure in the explosive dispersal mechanism.

Hygroscopic movement happens in response to a change in the water content of dead plant tissue, specially in the cell wall.

In the southern areas of North America, the plant tends to grow as a biennial with a more erect habit and with much larger leaves, flowers, and fruits.

[14] Raw Hairy stork's bill are 90.6% water, 7.9% carbohydrates, 0.6% protein, 3% dietary fiber, 0.8% ash and 0.1% fat.