Woolly Geranium

Leaves of Geranium erianthum permit a quick identification from G. platyanthum because they are more deeply divided. The main and the second sinus are deeper, and the middle segment is narrower at the base. Additionally, the sepal mucro is longer in G. erianthum, and trichomes of the stem and of the staminal filament are shorter. Usually G. erianthum has glandular trichomes restricted to the inflorescence.

Perennials. Rootstock ± horizontal, 5-10 mm in diam., not tuberculate, with thickened roots along rootstock. Stem 10-50 cm tall, erect, not rooting at nodes, with 0.2-0.6 mm retrorse appressed nonglandular trichomes. Stipules lanceolate, distinct. Leaves 1(or 2) alternate but opposite at inflorescence; petiole with 0.2-0.5 mm retrorse appressed nonglandular trichomes; leaf blade 3-11.7 cm, palmately cleft, ratio of main sinus/middle segment length = (0.8-)0.82-0.91, pilose with appressed nonglandular trichomes; segments 7, rhombic, 4.4-8.7(-16.9) mm wide at base, 10-34-lobed in distal half, ratio of second sinus/middle segment length = 0.18-0.35. Cymules solitary or in aggregates at apex of each branch, 2-flowered; peduncle (0-)1.1-5.5 cm. Pedicel 0.3-1.8 cm, with 0.2-0.6 mm patent to retrorse nonglandular trichomes and usually 0.3-2.5 mm patent glandular trichomes; bracteoles linear-lanceolate. Sepals 0.6-1 cm, mucro 0.9-2.7 mm, ratio of mucro/sepal length = 0.14-0.32, outside with 0.2-0.8 mm antrorse appressed nonglandular trichomes and 0.3-2 mm patent glandular trichomes, inside glabrous. Petals purplish, 1.2-1.8(-2) cm, erect to patent, outside basally with trichomes, inside glabrous, margin basally ciliate, apex rounded. Staminal filaments purplish, lanceolate, abaxially pilose and proximal half ciliate, trichomes 1.5-3.2 mm; anthers bluish, 2.1-3 mm. Nectaries 5, hemispheric, glabrous. Stigma purplish. Fruit 2.7-3.7 cm, erect when immature; mericarps smooth, with a basal callus, with 0.1-1.1 mm ± patent nonglandular trichomes and 0.8-1.4 mm patent glandular trichomes; rostrum 2.2-3 cm, with a 5-7.4 mm narrowed apex; stigmatic remains 1.6-2.3 mm. Seeds 2-2.9 mm. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep. 2n = 28.

Forests, scrub, meadows. Heilongjiang, E Jilin [Japan, Russia (Far East, Siberia); North America].

Geranium eriostemon Fischer ex Candolle var. orientale Maximowicz; G. gorbizense Aedo & Muñoz Garmendia; G. orientale (Maximowicz) Freyn (1902), not Miller (1768).

Geranium erianthum DC. Prodr. 1: 641. 1824
Geranium maculatum Hook. Fl. Bor. Am. 1 : 116. 1831. Not G. maculalum L,. 1753.
Perennial, the caudex simple. Stem solitary, usually scape-like, appressed-pubesceut with retrorse hairs ; leaf-blades 7-15 cm. wide, 5-7-parted, the divisions cleft into rather numerous lobes, finely and rather closely pubescent beneath ; petioles of the lower leaves elongate, pubescent like the stem ; pedicels retrorsely pubescent ; sepals awn-tipped, the outer ones 10-13 mm. long, the bodies elliptic, densely hirsute, some of the hairs glandtipped ; petals rose-purple, 17-20 mm. long, slightly veined ; style-column 25-30 mm. long, hirsute, partiallv glandular ; carpel-bodies 3.5-4 mm. long, copiously villous-pilose ; seeds slightly reticulate.
Type locality : Kamtschatka and northwestern America. Distribution : Alaska ; also in northeastern Asia and Japan.

Geranium erianthum, the woolly geranium, is a flowering plant found in China, Japan, Russia, North America and England . Within its range, it is often known as "wild geranium" or "cranesbill", but note that these common names are also used for several other species within the genus Geranium.