Species: Cut-leaved Crane's-bill (Geranium dissectum)
Family: Geraniums (GERANIACEAE)
Category: Flowering Plants
Location: NW
A. Flowering Plants
More extensive information on flowering plants can be found in a separate blog post.
B. Geraniums (GERANIACEAE)
This is a family of astringent plants, as they have significant amounts of tannic, ellagic, and gallic acids. The roots are particularly acidic. The long beak-like fruits gave rise to the name 'cranesbill'.
C. Cut-leaved Crane's-bill (Geranium dissectum)
This straggling native plant, with leaves cut almost to their bases, has pink-purple flowers that appear in May.
The Cut-leaved Crane's-bill is classed as an archaeophyte plant. This means that it is non-native to Britain but was introduced in 'ancient' times. Generally, this means that this type of plant was introduced prior to 1492 when Columbus arrived in the New World and the widespread transfer of plants between the Americas and the Old World first began. (Link to Wikipedia article on archaeophytes).
The flowers of Cut-leaved Crane's-bill turn into fruits as summer progresses, and these are seed-bearing, the carpels of which are flung out as the fruit dries. These plants are annuals, not perennials, so the need to produce seeds and self-sow them is what perpetuates them.
Images
Cut-leaved Crane's-bill
This straggling native plant, with leaves cut almost to their bases, has pink-purple flowers that appear in May to July. Their flowers are tiny. Here, before they have opened fully, they are about 3mm across.
Cut-leaved Crane's-bill
The Cut-leaved Crane's-bill is a member of the Geranium family.
Cut-leaved Crane's-bill
This straggling native plant, with leaves cut almost to their bases, has pink-purple flowers that appear in May.
