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Vascular Plants of California
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Geranium

CRANESBILL, GERANIUM


Higher Taxonomy
Family: GeraniaceaeView DescriptionDichotomous Key

Common Name: GERANIUM FAMILY
Habit: Annual, perennial herb, or +- woody, generally glandular-hairy. Leaf: simple to compound, basal and cauline; cauline alternate or opposite, stipules 2, +- on stem. Inflorescence: cyme or pseudo-umbel or 1--2-flowered. Flower: bisexual [unisexual], radial or +- bilateral; sepals 5, free, overlapping in bud; petals generally 5, free, generally with nectar glands at base; stamens generally 5,10[15]; staminodes scale-like or 0; ovary generally 5-lobed, upper part elongating into beak in fruit, chambers 5, placentas axile, style 1, stigmas 5, free, persistent in fruit. Fruit: septicidal [loculicidal], mericarps 5, dry, generally 1-seeded, each persistent on 1 of 5 linear segments of beak that separate from central column by curving or coiling upward.
Genera In Family: 6 genera, 709 species: temperate, +- tropics. Some cultivated for ornament, perfume oils.
eFlora Treatment Author: Carlos Aedo, except as noted
Scientific Editor: Thomas J. Rosatti.
Geranium
Habit: Annual, perennial herb, often +- glandular, especially above. Stem: generally 1--4 mm wide in lower 1/2. Leaf: palmately lobed to divided, +- hairy; segments generally palmately lobed and/or toothed; upper alternate or opposite; blade generally round in outline, base generally cordate. Inflorescence: (1)2-flowered. Flower: radial (+- bilateral); sepals +- awned to mucronate; stamens 10, outer 5 opposite petals (lacking anthers in G. pusillum), inner 5 alternate petals, nectary glands 5, alternate petals. Fruit: mericarp generally ovoid, dehiscent, 1-seeded; basal callus generally present, often with long bristles.
Species In Genus: 307 species: temperate, tropical mountains. Etymology: (Greek: crane, from fruit beak) Note: Geranium yeoi Aedo & Muñoz Garm., native to Atlantic island of Madeira, with petals (14.9)16.2--19.3(20.7) mm and stamen filaments (8.7)9.6--11.3(12.8) mm -- longer than in similar G. robertianum -- documented in NCo of Del Norte Co. (Zika 2009 Madroño 56:130).
Jepson eFlora Author: Carlos Aedo
Reference: [Aedo 2001 Anales Jard Bot Madrid 59:3--65; Aedo et al. 1998 Ann Missouri Bot Gard 85:594--630]
Unabridged Reference: [Aedo 2000--2001 Anales Jard Bot Madrid 58:39--82, 59:3--65; Aedo et al. 1998 Ann Missouri Bot Gard 85:594--630]
Index of California Plant Names (ICPN; linked via the Jepson Online Interchange)
Key to Geranium

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Citation for this treatment: Carlos Aedo 2022, Geranium, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, Revision 11, https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=9884, accessed on February 06, 2025.

Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2025, Jepson eFlora, https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/, accessed on February 06, 2025.