cranesbills

Herb robert (Geranium robertianum and shining cranesbill (Geranium lucidum) are common in the area, and are easily identified, the former by its palmate leaves, and the latter by its shining leaves.

At least one other species in now flowering in scattered localities in the area.

Hedgerow cranesbill (Geranium pyrenaicum), dovesfoot cranesbull (Geranium molle) and small-flowered cranesbill (Geranium pusillum) are difficult to tell apart, at least with my degree of knowledge. It turns out that the common one here is G. molle, but that I have been overlooking it as G. pyrenaicum, or G. rotundifolium, but apart from the larger flowers of G. pyrenaicum G. pyrenaicum has yellow stigmas, and G. molle red stigmas. G. rotundifolium has entire petals, instead of the bifid petals of the other three species.

Of the 3 plants I had photographed as G. molle in past years only one is definitely that species; the identity of the others is not currently clear to me. On the other hand, one photograph labelled as G. pyrenaicum turns out to be G. molle (but there are also genuine photographs of G. pyrenaicum).

G. pusillum has smaller and paler (lilac versus purple-pink) flowers, and instead of the ten fertile stamens of the other two species has five fertile and five sterile stamens. Although there are plants in the area with paler flowers those I have obtained clear photographs of have ten fertile stamens, and I am interpreting them as variation in the flower colour of G. molle.