Geranium sanguineum

Etymology

The genus name is derived from the Greek γέρανος ("géranos"), meaning crane, with reference to the fruit capsule resembling the bird's bill. The specific Latin name sanguineum means 'blood-red'; Linnaeus cites Gaspard Bauhin's 1623 book Pinax theatri botanici as his source for the name, which in turn refers ("sanguinaria radix") to a blood-red root.

Description

Geranium sanguineum has a hemicryptophyte plant life-form, with its overwintering buds situated just below the soil surface, and the floral axis more or less erect with a few leaves. It has a thick rhizome. The stems are prostrate to ascending, well developed, much branched, and hairy. It reaches on average 30 - in height. The petiolate leaves have five lobes (or segments), each segment is tripartite with large teeth. The flowers are produced singly (not in clusters, as in many other Geranium species), 2.5–4 cm diameter, with petals 12–18 mm wide, and are bright crimson. The flowering period extends from May to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite and pollinated by insects (entomophily). The most common flower visitors are Syrphidae and Hymenoptera, but also butterflies and Coleoptera. The fruit is a schizocarp that breaks up into five mericarps when ripe.

Distribution

Geranium sanguineum is native to most of temperate to subarctic Europe and western Asia. It is also frequent as a garden escape away from native sites.

Habitat

It typically occurs in grassland, being particularly abundant on coastal sand dunes, but also in open woodland on calcareous soils, including rocky slopes. It prefers a neutral pH, with low nutritional value, at altitudes from 0 to above sea level.

Cultivation

It is cultivated as a garden subject, and a number of different cultivars exist. The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:

• 'Album'
• 'Ankum's Pride'
• ’Aviemore’{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/136944/Geranium-sanguineum-Aviemore/Details
• 'Little Bead'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/194427/i-Geranium-sanguineum-i-Little-Bead/Details
• 'Shepherd's Warning'
• G. sanguineum var. striatum
• Geranium sanguineum var. striatum 'Splendens'

Gallery

File:(MHNT) Geranium sanguineum - Flower and leaf - Les Martels, Giroussens Tarn.jpg File:Geraniaceae - Geranium sanguineum.JPG File:Geraniaceae - Geranium sanguineum-2.JPG File:Geraniaceae - Geranium sanguineum-1.JPG File:Geraniaceae - Geranium sanguineum-4.JPG File:Geranium sanguineum02.jpg|Fruits showing mericarps File:Geraniaceae - Geranium sanguineum-3.JPG File:Geraniumsangred2.jpg|Autumn leaves image:0 Geranium sanguineum 'Striatum'- Samoëns.JPG|'Striatum'

References

References

1. (2020). "Bloody Crane's-bill ''Geranium sanguineum'' L.". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland.
2. {{BSBI 2007
3. {{GRIN
4. "Bloody crane's-bill {{!}} Plant & fungi species {{!}} Wild plants".
5. (1623). "Pinax theatri botanici". Basileae Helvet..
6. Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. II, pag. 6
7. Streeter D, Hart-Davies C, Hardcastle A, Cole F, Harper L. 2009. ''Collins Flower Guide''. Harper Collins {{ISBN. 9-78-000718389-0
8. "''Geranium sanguineum'' L.".
9. (1993). "Flora of Northumberland". Natural History Society of Northumbria.
10. (July 2017). "AGM Plants - Ornamental". Royal Horticultural Society.
11. "RHS Plant Selector - ''Geranium sanguineum'' 'Album'".
12. "RHS Plant Selector - ''Geranium sanguineum'' 'Ankum's Pride'".
13. "RHS Plant Selector - ''Geranium sanguineum'' 'Shepherd's Warning'".
14. "RHS Plant Selector - ''Geranium sanguineum'' var. ''striatum''".
15. "''Geranium sanguineum'' var. ''striatum'' 'Splendens'". RHS.