Round Leaved Crane's Bill

Foodplant / parasite
mainly epiphyllous, becoming superficial pseudothecium of Coleroa circinans parasitises live leaf of Geranium rotundifolium
Remarks: season: 10-4

Foodplant / parasite
Podosphaera fugax parasitises live Geranium rotundifolium

Foodplant / parasite
hypophyllous telium of Uromyces geranii parasitises live leaf of Geranium rotundifolium

Fairly common in the plains in spring as undergrowth in shade. Ascending to 3000 m. Specimens from Kashmir (Titwal and Surkhala are different in the petals not exceeding the sepals. I have also observed intermediate forms from Bagh (A. Kashmir) and Kulu (in India) where the petals are equal to sepals. Plants parts used as a diurectic and as an astringent.

The general appearance of this species is much like Geranium molle or G. pusillum, and it occasionally has been misidentified with these species. However, its rounded petals and smooth mericarps permit an easy identification, which also could be supported by its subspherical and remarkably reticulate seeds.

A low growing diffuse annual. Stems glandular hairy, slender, often reddish. Leaves reniform, 10-40 mm broad, with 5-7 segments; lobes crenate. Stipules 1.5-3.5 mm long, wedge shaped, acuminate, often reddish brown. Flowers 6-7 (-8) mm broad. Peduncles glandular, deflexed in fruit. Sepals 3.5-4.5 mm long, ovate-oblong-lanceolate, hairy. Petals (2.5-) 5-7 mm long, obovate, sometimes retuse, lilac. Filaments 2.5 mm long, gradually dilated towards the base; dilated part ciliate. Beak 8-10 mm long, hairy, mericarps hairy. Seed c. 1.5 mm broad, subglobose, prominently reticulate.

Annuals. Stem 10-40 cm tall, erect, not rooting at nodes, with 0.2-1.2 mm patent nonglandular trichomes and 0.2-0.6 mm patent glandular trichomes. Stipules lanceolate, distinct. Leaves opposite; petiole with 0.2-1 mm patent nonglandular trichomes and 0.2-0.6 mm patent glandular trichomes; leaf blade 1.2-3.3 cm, palmately cleft, ratio of main sinus/middle segment length = 0.55-0.65, pilose with appressed nonglandular and sometimes glandular trichomes; segments 5, obtriangular, 5-10 mm wide at base, (3-)6-8-lobed at apex, ratio of second sinus/middle segment length = 0.13-0.2. Cymules solitary, 2-flowered; peduncle 1.8-3 cm. Pedicel 0.7-2 cm, with 0.3-1 mm patent nonglandular trichomes and 0.3-0.6 mm patent glandular trichomes; bracteoles linear-lanceolate. Sepals 4.5-6 mm, mucro 0.3-0.6 mm, ratio of mucro/sepal length = 0.06-0.1, outside with 0.4-1 mm patent nonglandular trichomes and 0.4-0.9 mm patent glandular trichomes, inside glabrous. Petals purplish, 6-7 mm, erect to patent, both surfaces glabrous or sometimes inside with scattered trichomes, apex rounded. Staminal filaments whitish, lanceolate, basally slightly dilated, glabrous except proximal half with some 0.1-0.2 mm cilia; anthers yellowish, ca. 0.5 mm. Nectaries 5, hemispheric, glabrous. Stigma reddish. Fruit 1.6-1.8 cm, erect when immature; mericarps smooth, with a basal callus, with 0.2-0.3 mm ± patent nonglandular trichomes; rostrum 1.2-1.3 cm, with a 2-3 mm narrowed apex; stigmatic remains 1-1.2 mm. Seeds 1.8-2 mm. Fl. May-Jun, fr. Jun-Jul. 2n = 26.

Distribution: W. & C. Europe, Siberia, Turkey, Iran, W. & E. Mediterranean area, Africa, Afghanistan. temperate and tropical Himalaya.

NW Xinjiang [Afghanistan, Kashmir, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; N Africa, W Asia, Europe].

Fl. Per.: March-April.

Steppes; 900-1400 m.

Geranium rotundifolium L. Sp. PI. 683. 1753
Annual or biennial. Stems branched at the base, the branches decumbent or procumbent, 1-6 cm. long, softly pubescent with gland-tipped hairs; leaf-blades reniform to orbicular-reniform in outline, 1.5^1 dm. broad, cleft to about the middle, the divisions 3-5toothed at the apex ; petioles and pedicels pubescent like the branches ; sepals awn-tipped, the outer ones 4-5.5 mm. long, the bodies oblong or elliptic, the subulate tip minute; petals purple, longer than the sepals ; style-column 12-15 mm. long, minutely glandularpubescent ; carpel-bodies 2.5-3 mm. long, glandular-pubescent; seeds pitted.
Type locality: Europe.
Distribution: New York and Michigan. Adventive from Europe.

Geranium rotundifolium, the roundleaf geranium, is a species of annual herb in the family Geraniaceae. They have a self-supporting growth form and are associated with freshwater habitat. They have simple, broad leaves, flowers are visited by sweat bees, Small Carpenter Bees, Myopa, and cabbage butterfly. Individuals can grow to 20 cm tall.