1. Geranium carolinianum L. (Carolina crane’s bill)
G. carolinianum var. confertiflorum Fernald
Pl. 422 p–r; Map
1883
Plants annual,
usually taprooted. Aerial stems 10–65 cm long, erect to loosely ascending,
moderately pubescent with short to long (0.2–1.0 mm), spreading to somewhat
downward-pointing, mostly nonglandular hairs (usually with at least some glandular
hairs toward the tip). Leaves basal and opposite, the basal ones
long-petiolate, those of the stems with progressively shorter petioles. Leaf
blades 1–7 cm long, wider than long to about as long as wide, kidney-shaped to
nearly circular in outline, deeply 5–9-lobed, the lobes more or less obovate,
mostly deeply and sharply 3- or 5-lobed, sometimes with additional lobes and/or
teeth along the margin, the surfaces sparsely to densely pubescent with more or
less appressed nonglandular hairs. Inflorescences appearing axillary and often
also terminal, short- to long-stalked, consisting of pairs of flowers, these
sometimes condensed into small clusters. Individual flower stalks 3–11 mm long,
0.5–1.1 times as long as the sepals, pubescent with spreading, mostly
gland-tipped hairs. Sepals 5–6.5 mm long, becoming enlarged to 11 mm at
fruiting, ovate, tapered or narrowed to a conspicuous, short, awnlike extension
1.5–2.0 mm long at the tip, pubescent with short to long, loosely ascending,
glandular and nonglandular hairs. Petals 5.5–7.0 mm long, obtriangular,
truncate to shallowly notched at the tip, pale pink or pale lavender to nearly
white. Stamens 10. Staminodes absent. Mericarps 19–25 mm long at maturity, the
seed-containing basal portion 3.0–4.5 mm long, the lateral surfaces smooth,
pubescent with relatively long (0.7–1.5 mm) upward-pointing hairs (these mostly
or all nonglandular), lacking a dorsal ridge or wing, the stylar beak with
spreading to loosely ascending, all or mostly nonglandular hairs, the slender
extension between the columnar portion and the stigmas 1–2 mm long. Seeds
2.0–2.2 mm long, the surface appearing smooth or with a faint fine network of
ridges and pits. 2n=52. May–July.
Scattered nearly
throughout the state (U.S., Canada, Mexico; introduced in South America,
Caribbean Islands, and Asia). Glades, upland prairies, sand prairies, tops and
ledges of bluffs, openings of mesic upland forests, and banks of streams and
rivers; also pastures, fallow fields, roadsides, railroads, ditches, levees,
and open disturbed areas.
Some earlier
authors (Steyermark, 1963) recognized two or more varieties within G.
carolinianum, based on subtle differences in pubescence and other floral
characteristics. Aedo (2000) documented that pubescence, sepal nervation, and
seed shape, among other characters varied on the same individual in some
populations, thus precluding the formal recognition of such varieties. Geranium
carolinianum is the only Missouri species of the genus with consistently
pale-colored flowers.