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Small geranium

Geranium pusillum L.

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Small geranium
Small geranium
Small geranium
Small geranium
Small geranium

Morphology

Stem
Spreading or ascending, branched, minutely hirsute.
Leaves
Basal and cauline, simple; petiole present; blade reniform in outline, .5 to 1.2 inch long, .2 to .6 inch wide, margins deeply palmately divided nearly to petiole into 5-9 main segments, each segment further divided into several toothed, oblong, or linear lobes.
Inflorescence
Cymes, umbel-like, or flowers solitary.
Flower
Sepals 5, distinct, ovate, .1 to .16 inch, apex tapered to minute sharp point; petals 5, pink to purple, distinct, wedge-shaped, .08 to .1 inch, apex shallowly to deeply notched; stamens 5; style column .25 to .35 inch; stigmas 5.
Fruit
Schizocarps, fusiform, carpel beak coiled outward when dry; seeds brown to black, ellipsoid to ovoid, ca. .06 inch, appressed-pubescent.

Ecology

Habitat
Lawns, cemeteries, fields, pastures, and disturbed places.
Distribution
Principally east 1/2 of Kansas

Additional Notes

Comments

A weedy species that is becoming increasingly common in Kansas. Geranium - from the Greek geranos "crane", alluding to the long fruit and pusillum - "very small".

Quick Facts
Plant Type
Wildflower
Family
Geraniaceae - Geranium Family
Life Span
Annual
Height
4-20 inches
Origin
Introduced
Last Updated
2014-01-17
Color Groups
Pink, Red & Orange Wildflowers
Blue, Purple, Lavender & Violet Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Blooms: April, May, June, July, August, September