2. Geranium columbinum L. (long-stalked crane’s bill)
Map 1884
Plants annual,
usually taprooted. Aerial stems 9–50 cm long, spreading to loosely ascending,
sparsely to moderately pubescent with short (0.3–0.6 mm), downward-pointing,
appressed, nonglandular hairs. Leaves basal and opposite, the basal ones
long-petiolate, those of the stems with progressively shorter petioles. Leaf
blades 1.5–5.5 cm long, wider than long to about as long as wide, kidney-shaped
to nearly circular in outline, deeply 5- or 7-lobed, the lobes elliptic to more
or less obovate, deeply and sharply 3–7-lobed, sometimes with additional lobes
and/or teeth along the margin, the surfaces sparsely to densely pubescent with
appressed nonglandular hairs. Inflorescences appearing axillary and often also
terminal, long-stalked, consisting of pairs of flowers. Individual flower
stalks 20–60 mm long, 3.5–10.0 times as long as the sepals, pubescent with
downward-pointing, appressed, nonglandular hairs. Sepals 5–8 mm long, becoming
enlarged to 11 mm at fruiting, ovate, tapered or narrowed to a conspicuous,
short, awnlike extension 1.2–3.0 mm long at the tip, pubescent with appressed,
nonglandular hairs. Petals 8–10 mm long, obtriangular, notched at the tip,
reddish purple. Stamens 10. Staminodes absent. Mericarps 20–25 mm long at
maturity, the seed-containing basal portion 2.2–2.8 mm long, the lateral
surfaces smooth, glabrous or sparsely pubescent with short (0.2–0.3 mm),
spreading, nonglandular hairs, lacking a dorsal ridge or wing, the stylar beak
with spreading to loosely ascending, nonglandular hairs, the slender extension
between the columnar portion and the stigmas 3–5 mm long. Seeds 2.2–2.4 mm
long, the surface finely pitted. 2n=18. April–July.
Introduced,
known thus far from a single specimen from Texas County (native of Europe,
sporadically introduced in the U.S. and Canada). Old fields and open disturbed
areas.
This species was
first discovered growing in Missouri by Bill Summers in 1993. It is fairly
easily recognized in the field by its long-stalked inflorescences, which
overtop the foliage.