Scientific Family
Geraniaceae
Synonyms
Geranium atropurpureum, Geranium thermale
Other common names
wild geranium
crane's bill
purple cluster geranium
tufted geranium
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
3 feet
Riparian
No
Plant of erect, stout, branched, and hairy stems topped by a small umbel of pinkish to purplish flowers. Stems arise from palmately lobed basal leaves.
Perennial with often woody base; branched and erect stems, swollen stem nodes; leaves green with 5 deeply cut lobes; flower petals light pink to purple, pedicels normally without glandular hairs.
Habitat
Commonly found in pine forests.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
4500
High elevation
9000
Flower Characteristics
The flower is 1/2 inch wide, has 5 backward-drooping petals with dark pink veins. Stamens 10, 5 alternate stamens are longer.
Flower color
Pink to purplish
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Hairy basal leaves, 1-1/2 inches wide, with pinkish edges, 5 toothed lobes. Red stems. The leaves are scented when crushed.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Palmate
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Stiff green container, 1/2 inch long, shaped like a crane's bill, contains 1 seed tipped with an elongated tail that coils at maturity and straightens out with rainfall, which forces the pointed seed into the soil.
Fruit type
Pod
Fruit color
Green