Geranium dahuricum DC.

Geranium dahuricum is quite similar to G. soboliferum. The latter is usually a more robust plant with longer and more deeply divided leaf blades, longer sepals, and petals and nectaries with trichomes. Geranium krameri is also close to G. dahuricum. In addition to characters mentioned in the key, the former is more robust and its leaf blade segments have a tendency to show ± straight sides. Geranium dahuricum has nectaries usually glabrous, although sometimes scattered trichomes can be found.

Perennials. Rootstock ± vertical, 4-8 mm in diam., not tuberculate, with a fascicle of long and thickened roots. Stem 23-48(-72) cm tall, erect, not rooting at nodes, with 0.3-1 mm retrorse appressed nonglandular trichomes. Stipules lanceolate, connate at least at base. Leaves opposite; petiole with 0.2-1 mm retrorse appressed nonglandular trichomes; leaf blade 3.7-5.9 cm, palmately cleft, ratio of main sinus/middle segment length = (0.83-)0.86-0.95, pilose with appressed nonglandular trichomes; segments 5, rhombic, 1.6-5.7 mm wide at base, 4-7(-10)-lobed in distal half, ratio of second sinus/middle segment length = 0.23-0.46. Cymules solitary, 2-flowered; peduncle 2.2-6.4(-10) cm. Pedicel 1.8-4.4 cm, with 0.2-0.5 mm retrorse appressed nonglandular trichomes; bracteoles lanceolate. Sepals 5.5-6.9(-9) mm, mucro 0.9-1.5(-2) mm, ratio of mucro/sepal length = 0.13-0.28, outside with 0.3-1.6 mm antrorse ± appressed nonglandular trichomes, inside glabrous. Petals light pink, (0.8-)0.9-1.3(-1.4) cm, erect to patent, outside basally with trichomes, inside basal 1/3-1/2 or rarely to apex with trichomes, margin basally ciliate, apex rounded. Staminal filaments pinkish, lanceolate with an abruptly narrowed apex, abaxially pilose and proximal half ciliate, trichomes 0.2-0.8 mm; anthers bluish, 1.4-2 mm. Nectaries 5, hemispheric, usually glabrous. Stigma reddish. Fruit 1.7-2.6 cm, erect when immature; mericarps smooth, with a basal callus, with 0.2-0.7 mm ± patent nonglandular trichomes and apically with 0.9-1.2 mm patent glandular trichomes; rostrum 1-1.8 cm, with a 1.5-2.1 mm narrowed apex; stigmatic remains 2.8-4.5 mm. Seeds 1.6-2 mm. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep. 2n = 28.

Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi, W Sichuan, NE and SE Xinjiang, Xizang (Gongbo’gyamda) [Korea, Mongolia, Russia (Baikal, E Siberia)].

Meadows, subalpine meadows, alpine meadows; 1500-3500 m.

Geranium dahuricum var. baiheense Z. H. Lu & Y. C. Zhu; G. dahuricum var. paishanense (Y. L. Chang) C. C. Huang & L. R. Xu; G. paishanense Y. L. Chang.