Crane's-bill (Geranium) Family [Geraniaceae] |
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flower
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morph
petals
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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.
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Geranium | lucidum | ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ | Geraniaceae |
Geranium (Crane's-bills) |
Crane's-bill (Geranium) Family [Geraniaceae] |