SHINING CRANE'S-BILL

Geranium lucidum

Crane's-bill (Geranium) Family [Geraniaceae]  

month8May month8jun month8june month8jul month8july month8Aug month8sep month8sept

status
statusZnative
flower
flower8pink
inner
inner8yellow
morph
morph8actino
petals
petalsZ5
stem
stem8round

13th May 2005, Lancaster Canal, Hest Bank. Photo: © RWD
The glossy roundish leaves are five-lobed, the flowers a fairly small 15-19mm across.


26th May 2015, Chee Dale, White Peaks, Derbyshire. Photo: © RWD
Grows from 10 to 40cm high.


26th May 2015, Chee Dale, White Peaks, Derbyshire. Photo: © RWD
Leaves have encompass a circular envelope, and are 5-lobed, with the lobes themselves having smaller lobes.


10th May 2005, Hope, Derbyshire. Photo: © RWD
The leaves and stems often reddish. Stems brittle.


9th May 2008, Lancaster Canal, Hest Bank. Photo: © RWD
Sometimes the leaves are even scarlet, often slightly stubbly hairy.


19th April 2007, Llangollen, North Wales. Photo: © RWD
The petals are pink and without notches. The leaves are cut to about two-thirds of the way to the centre (with the obvious exception of one 'cut' which goes to the centre). Sepal tubes splay out into 5-parts when ripe (left).


18th May 2016, grykes, Knipe Scar, Bampton, Cumbria. Photo: © Chris Cant
Not all leaves encompass 360°


8th June 2015, Silverdale, North Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Five stamens with yellow anthers.


8th June 2015, Silverdale, North Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Petals not nicked. The 6th stamen-like central projection is the style topped by a discoidal yellow stigma.


8th June 2015, Silverdale, North Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Many flower stalks have U-bends. Where flower stalks branch-off several short usually red bracts emerge.


8th June 2015, Silverdale, North Lancs. Photo: © RWD
The sepal tube is 5-winged. The developing fruit has a long 'bill'.


8th June 2015, Silverdale, North Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Inbetween the wings of the sepal tube nest several pointed teeth-like projections which often redden.


Photo: © RWD
The leaves glossy shiny.


8th June 2015, Silverdale, North Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Leaves have sparse but long white hairs.


Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Distinguishing Feature : It is the only Crane's-bill with shiny glossy leaves. Other Crane's-bills may have satin leaves with a slight sheen, yet others are matt.

Shining Crane's-bill is often sprawling and prostrate, but sometimes erect. Likes to grow on walls or rocks, but will grow in hedgebanks or bare places, verges, banks, churchyards, waste ground or gardens on sandy or chalky soils. Prefers limestone areas.


USE BY BUTTERFLIES
LAYS EGGS ON CATERPILLAR CHRYSALIS BUTTERFLY
Brown Argus



  Geranium lucidum  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Geraniaceae  

Distribution
family8Cranesbill family8Geranium family8Geraniaceae
 BSBI maps
genus8geranium
Geranium
(Crane's-bills)

SHINING CRANE'S-BILL

Geranium lucidum

Crane's-bill (Geranium) Family [Geraniaceae]  

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