Siberian Geranium

Found in the outer dry ranges of the Karakoram from 2000-4000 m. Similar to Geranium nepalense but more flaccid and branched; also differs in having retuse petals, upper leaves petioled, narrower segments and the less prominent seed reticulations.

This species is characterized by 1-flowered cymules and by leaves with narrow segments. Some specimens occasionally have 2-flowered cymules, although most of the inflorescences have 1-flowered cymules. Some authors have suggested that European plants are characterized by pink to pinkish violet petals and villous vegetative parts and Siberian plants by white to pale pink petals and short and appressed trichomes. In Chinese specimens, these characters appear mixed in different combinations, which does not support such a division. Note also the discussion under Geranium nepalense.

Perennial or annual; upper parts retrorse pubescent. Stem 1(-3), diffuse, procumbent. Leaves palmati-5 (-7)-partite, 20-25 x 35-75 mm, pubescent; segments narrow rhomboid, pinnatifid-partite into lanceolate acute lobes. Petiole up to 6 cm long, dense patent pubescent at the base of lamina. Stipules and bracts similar to Geranium nepalense. Inflorescence diffuse amongst the upper leaves. Peduncle 1(-2) flowered. Sepals 4-5 mm long, elliptic-ovate, awn 1-2 mm long. Petals about the size of sepals, retuse.

Perennials. Rootstock ± vertical, 2-5.3 mm in diam., not tuberculate, with thickened roots along rootstock. Stem 15-95 cm tall, erect or ascending, not rooting at nodes, with 0.3-1 mm patent or retrorse nonglandular trichomes. Stipules lanceolate to subulate, distinct. Leaves opposite; petiole with 0.3-1.5 mm patent to retrorse nonglandular trichomes; leaf blade 1.7-5.8 cm, palmately cleft, ratio of main sinus/middle segment length = 0.83-0.92, pilose with appressed nonglandular trichomes; segments 5, narrowly rhombic, 3.2-5.5 mm wide at base, 7-14-lobed in distal half, ratio of second sinus/middle segment length = 0.18-0.28. Cymules solitary, 1(or 2)-flowered; peduncle (0-)0.9-8.8 cm. Pedicel 1.8-3.5 cm, with 0.2-0.8 mm patent to retrorse nonglandular trichomes; bracteoles linear-lanceolate. Sepals 3.7-6.4 mm, mucro 0.9-1.6 mm, ratio of mucro/sepal length = 0.17-0.34, outside with 0.2-1.1 mm patent to antrorse ± appressed nonglandular trichomes, inside glabrous. Petals white or pink with purplish veins, 4-5.4(-5.8) mm, erect to patent, both surfaces glabrous, margin basally ciliate, apex rounded or slightly notched. Staminal filaments yellowish, lanceolate with an abruptly narrowed apex, both sides glabrous but proximal half ciliate with 0.1-0.3 mm trichomes; anthers bluish, 0.3-0.7 mm. Nectaries 5, hemispheric, glabrous. Stigma yellowish. Fruit 1.4-1.9 cm, erect when immature; mericarps smooth with 1 transversal vein at apex, with a basal callus, with 0.1-1.5 mm ± patent nonglandular trichomes; rostrum 0.8-1.4 cm, with a 0.4-1 mm narrowed apex; stigmatic remains 0.8-1.3 mm. Seeds 2-2.8 mm. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Jul-Aug. 2n = 28.

Distribution: C. Europe, Iran, Siberia, Caucasus, China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, W. Tibet and Baltistan.

Gansu, NE Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan [Afghanistan, N Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; W Asia, Europe].

Fl. Per.: June-July.

Forest margins, scrub, meadows, weedy areas; 2000-3900 m.