Geranium pyrenaicum (Hedgerow Crane's-Bill)'s Journal

This project collects observations of Geranium pyrenaicum (Hedgerow Geranium) in California to facilitate identification and prevent misidentification of this species.

Geranium pyrenaicum, also known as Hedgerow Geranium, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the family Geraniaceae. It is native to Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia, but has naturalized in California.

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 pyrenaicum:

• Habit: This plant tends to form a clump of leaves, almost a low shrub.
• Leaves are wedge-shaped with 5‒7 segments divided 50‒60% to base.
• Stems have soft hairs.
• Flowers: Petals are bright purple and notched. Petals are about twice the length of the sepals.
• Habitat: Grows in disturbed places, fields, and forest margins.
• Distribution: Not widespread in California.

Similar Species:

• Geranium molle (Dove's-foot Crane's-bill)
• Geranium pusillum (Small-flowered Crane’s Bill)

How to differentiate G. pyrenaicum from G. molle:

• G. pyrenaicum flowers are larger and wider and the petals are more shallowly lobed; G. molle flowers are smaller and narrower and the petals are more deeply lobed.
• G. pyrenaicum flowers are dark purple; G. molle flowers are pink.
• G. pyrenaicum petals are about twice as long as the sepals; G. molle petals are up to 1.5 times as long as the sepals
• G. pyrenaicum is much less common than G. molle.

References:

• Calflora: https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=8595
• Jepson eFlora: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=26739

• iNaturalist:
  ** https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/77259-Geranium-pyrenaicum
  ** https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/geranium-pyrenaicum-hedgerow-crane-s-bill
  ** https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/geraniums-cranesbills-california