How to identify Geranium dissectum (Cut-leaved Crane's-Bill)
This project collects observations of Geranium dissectum (Cut-leaved Crane's-Bill) in California for the purpose of facilitating identification and preventing misidentification of this species in iNaturalist.
Photo tips:
- It’s important to get a picture of the entire plant.
- It's also helpful to get close-up pictures of the face of the flowers, sepals, leaves, and fruits, if present.
- If there are multiple plants in the picture, it’s helpful to crop your photo to focus on the plant of interest.
How to identify Geranium dissectum:
- Stem: ascending to erect, 0.7–7 dm (2.8–28 in); hairs rough, spreading to reflexed.
- Leaf: lobed, narrow blade 2.5‒5.4 cm wide, divided 75%‒95% to base, 5‒7, rhombic segments. Variable in hair type.
- Flower: There are usually two flowers per node. Petals are notched, 2‒5.8 mm long, and come in shades of red, pink, and purple. The pedicel is 6‒13 mm. Sepals are 4.2‒7.1 mm, smooth, short-awned.
- Fruit: Sparsely hairy; mericarp 2.3‒2.9 mm, smooth, minutely bristly, base with prong; beak 11.1‒13.5 mm, narrow tip 1.6‒2.7 mm; stigmas 0.6‒1 mm.
- Seed: deeply pitted.
- Habitat: Can be found in open, disturbed areas.
- Flowering Time: March through July.
Similar Species:
- Geranium molle (Dove's-foot Crane's-bill)
- Geranium core-core (Alderney Crane’s Bill)
- Geranium carolinianum (Carolina Crane's-bill)
- Geranium pusillum (Small-flowered Crane’s Bill)
How to differentiate G. dissectum from G. molle:
- G. dissectum has deeply dissected leaf lobes; G. molle has shallower and wider leaf lobes.
- G. dissectum petals are notched; G. molle petals are lobed.
How to differentiate G. dissectum from G. core-core:
- G. dissectum has purple reproductive parts and stripes on petals; G. core-core has yellow reproductive parts and no stripes on petals.
- G. dissectum leaves appear thinner and are not suggestive of a succulent texture; G. core-core leaves are wider and have a more succulent texture.
- G. dissectum fruits are shallowly keeled; G. core-core fruits are deeply keeled.
How to differentiate G. dissectum from G. carolinianum:
- G. dissectum has petals that are dark pink or dark reddish pink; G. carolinianum has petals that are light pink or white with pink veins.
- G. dissectum has narrower leaf lobes; G. carolinianum has wider leaf lobes.
- G. dissectum fruit beak is densely pubescent with gland-tipped hairs; style branches purplish, about 0.5 mm long; G. carolinianum fruit beak is pubescent with only a few hairs glandular; style branches yellow, 1 mm or longer
How to differentiate G. dissectum from G. pusillum:
- G. dissectum stem hairs are rough; G. pusillum stem hairs are soft.
- G. dissectum has 5‒7 rhombic-shaped leaf segments; G. pusillum has 7 wedge-shaped leaf segments.
- G. dissectum petals 2.9‒5.9 mm and notched; G. pusillum petals 2‒3 mm.
References:
- Calflora: https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=3799
- Jepson eFlora: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=26715
- Monterery Wildflowers: https://montereywildflowers.com/geraniaceae-geranium/
- https://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Geranium%20dissectum
- https://bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/Geranium_Crib.pdf#:~:text=Geranium%20columbinum%20and%20G
iNaturalist:
** https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/53075-Geranium-dissectum
** https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/geranium-dissectum-cut-leaved-crane-s-bill
** https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/geraniums-cranesbills-california
** https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/geranium-seeds
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