Geranium rotundifolium (round-leaved crane's-bill)

Leaf type: Kidney shaped, cordate, lobed
Phyllotaxis: Opposite (stem leaves), whorled (basal leaves)

Leaf (upper side)

Geranium rotundifolium basal leaf — Basal leaf

Geranium rotundifolium basal leaves — Basal leaves/habitus in spring (March).

Geranium rotundifolium upper leaves — Stem leaves (upper leaves) and flowers in autumn (October).

Habitus & biology

Geranium rotundifolium is an annual plant with upright or ascending shoots. These can grow up to 30 centimetres long.

The basal leaves are roundish to kidney-shaped and only slightly incised. The opposite stem leaves are lobed and deeply incised.

Leaves and stems are finely hairy. The stems can turn reddish in colour.

Geranium rotundifolium habitus spring — Habitus of Geranium rotundifolium in spring (March). The next picture shows this plant in flower, taken about four weeks later.

Geranium rotundifolium habitus in flower — Habitus of a flowering plant in April.

Distribution & habitates

The original distribution area is in Europe, North Africa and West Asia. Geranium rotundifolium is also found as an introduced species in some North American and South American regions (source).

The round-leaved cranesbill grows along roadsides, on railway embankments, in weedy areas and in front of walls.

Geranium rotundifolium between coarse gravel — Geranium rotundifolium in coarse gravel on a railway embankment.

Geranium rotundifolium in meadow — Geranium rotundifolium at the edge of a meadow.

Botany

The round-leaved crane’s-bill (Geranium rotundifolium) belongs to the Geraniaceae family and is also known as roundleaf geranium.

Leaf (upper side)

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