Geranium collinum Stephan ex Willd.

A polymorphic species with an unusual amount of variability in the plant and leaf size, shape, incision and the degree of pubescence. This variability has also been mentioned by several other authors such as Bobrov (l.c. 4243), Schönbeck-Temesy (l.c. 22) etc.

There is some difference of opinion as to petal colour. Knuth (l.c.) states it to be violet-purplish or violet-rose to sometimes white (Schönbeck-Temesy, l.c.), Bobrov, (l.c. 43-44) mentioned the colour as pink. In the Flora of Turkey (l.c. p. 467) and Flora Europea (l.c. p. 197) the colour mentioned is lilac or lilac-pink. Usually found along irrigation ditches or damp places from 2800-4800 m.

This species is usually difficult to differentiate from Geranium pratense if fruit are not available. Leaves of G. collinum are usually with 5 segments, and they are shorter and less divided; staminal filaments and fruit are a bit shorter than those of G. pratense. The variability of this species along its whole area is remarkable and it should be studied more deeply. Montane forms in Asia have a general appearance quite different from plants in the lowlands of Europe, but no consistent character to differentiate them has been found.

Perennial 15-50 cm or more tall. Rhizome elongated. Stem(s) ascending, divaricate, retrorsely pubescent or glandular. Leaves suborbicular or orbicularreniform, 15-80 mm broad, palmatipartite into acute (-obtuse) lobes. Petiole of lower leaves up to 13 cm long. Stipules subulate-lanceolate, 5-7 (-9) mm long, entire, pubescent. Peduncle 3.5-13 (-17) cm long, ascending-recurved. Sepals 6-9 (-10) mm long, elliptic oblong, 3-5-nerved, pubescent or glandular; awn 1-2 mm long. Petals 14-19 mm long, obovate, lilac-rose or sometimes white, claw ciliate. Beak 16-24 mm long. Mericarps pubescent or pubescent-glandular. Seed 2.5 mm long, oblong, minutely reticulate, brownish black.

Perennials. Rootstock ± horizontal, 0.6-1.4 cm in diam., not tuberculate, with thickened roots along rootstock. Stem 18-70(-100) cm tall, erect, not rooting at nodes, with 0.2-0.6 mm retrorse appressed nonglandular trichomes and sometimes 0.2-0.6 mm patent glandular trichomes. Stipules lanceolate, distinct. Leaves opposite; petiole with 0.2-0.6 mm retrorse appressed nonglandular trichomes and sometimes 0.5-0.6 mm patent glandular trichomes; leaf blade 2.4-4.5(-9.4) cm, palmately cleft, ratio of main sinus/middle segment length = 0.76-0.85, pilose with appressed nonglandular trichomes; segments 5(or 7), rhombic, 2-7.4(-10) mm wide at base, 4-13-lobed in distal half, ratio of second sinus/middle segment length = 0.19-0.48. Cymules solitary, 2-flowered; peduncle 3.2-15.3(-16) cm. Pedicel 0.5-5.2 cm, with 0.2-0.6 mm retrorse appressed nonglandular trichomes and sometimes 0.2-0.7 mm patent glandular trichomes; bracteoles linear-lanceolate. Sepals 4.8-7.3(-9.3) mm, mucro 0.8-1.4(-2.5) mm, ratio of mucro/sepal length = 0.11-0.37, outside with 0.2-0.5 mm antrorse ± appressed nonglandular trichomes and sometimes 0.3-0.7 mm patent glandular trichomes, inside glabrous. Petals purplish, (0.8-)1-1.6(-1.8) cm, erect to patent, both surfaces glabrous, margin basally ciliate, apex rounded. Stami nal filaments pinkish, lanceolate with a broadly triangular base and an abruptly narrowed apex, glabrous except proximal half with some 0.1-0.6 mm cilia; anthers yellowish or pinkish, 0.9-3.4 mm. Nectaries 5, hemispheric, abaxially glabrous, apex with a tuft of trichomes. Stigma pinkish. Fruit 2.1-3.1 cm, erect when immature; mericarps smooth but usually with 1 or 2 transversal veins at apex, with a basal callus, with 0.2-0.6 mm ± appressed nonglandular trichomes and rarely 0.7-0.8 mm patent glandular trichomes; rostrum 1.6-2.2 cm, with a 2.8-4.5 mm narrowed apex; stigmatic remains 1.3-2.2 mm. Seeds 2.6-2.9 mm. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep. 2n = 28.

Nepal.

Distribution: C. & S. Russia, W. Siberia, Romania, Turkey, Iran, Caucasus, C. Asia, Afghanistan, N.W. Himalaya.

Xinjiang [Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; W Asia, Europe].

Fl. Per.: July-August.

Subalpine and alpine meadows; 2200-4200 m.