Geraniaceae . . . . . Crane's-bill family

Choose between Crane's-bills and Stork's-bills:

Lvs palmate: Crane's-bills (Geranium)

Lvs pinnate: Stork's-bills (Erodium)

See also: Rosaceae;

Caryophyllaceae;

Frankenia;

Aethiopicum & Erodium . . . . Storksbills

Choose from the following four Stork's-bills:

Erodium circuitarum

Erodium moschatum

Aethiopicum lebelii

Erodium maritimum

Common Storksbill

Musk Storksbill

Sticky Storksbill

Sea Storksbill

N.B. E. circuitarum generally has more divided leaves (2-pinnate) than E. moschatum (1-pinnate musky-smelling leaves); also broader stipules and flowers (c.15 mm) with no blotches.

Aethiopicum . . . . Sticky Storksbill

Aethiopicum lebelii (was Erodium) . . . . Sticky Storksbill

Local; Similar to E. circuitarum but sepals and flower stalks with dense patent glandular hairs; flowers fewer (2-4) and generally smaller (<10mm)

Erodium . . . . Storksbills

Erodium circuitarum . . . . . Common Storksbill

Note that leaves usually doubly-pinnate (c.f. E. moschatum)

Erodium moschatum . . . . . Musk Storksbill

C and S Britain; petals more strap-shaped, crumpled; relatively uncommon c.f. Erodium circuitarum

Erodium maritimum . . . . . Sea Storksbill

Uncommon coastal plant mainly from the S, especially CI

5 or 6 other wool-alien spp. may be encountered

Geranium . . . . Crane's-bills

Select by flowers or by leaf shape: Flowers or Leaves

Choose from the following 19 Crane's-bills:

G. pratense

G. sylvaticum

G. sanguineum

G. phaeum

Meadow Cranesbill

Wood Cranesbill

Bloody Cranesbill

Dusky Cranesbill

G. robertianum

G. purpureum

G. rotundifolium

G. herrerae

Herb Robert

Little Robin

Round-leaved Geranium

Alderney Geranium

G. molle

G. pusillum

G. dissectum

G. pyrenaicum

Dovesfoot Crane's-bill

Small-flowered Crane's-bill

Cut-leaved Geranium

Hedgerow Crane's-bill

Other spp. widely grown in gardens and escaping:

G. lucidum

G. versicolor

G. endressii

G. psilostemon

Shiny Crane's-bill

Pencilled Crane's-bill

French Geranium

Armenian Crane's-bill

G. macrorrhizumum

G. maderense

G. x oxonianum

G. x cantabridgiense

Rock Crane's-bill

Giant Herb Robert

Druce's Crane's-bill

Cambridge Crane's-bill

Somewhat similar is the rather rare Sea Heath or Frankenia:

Choose appropriate leaf shape:

Geranium . . . . Crane's-bills

Geranium dissectum . . . Cut-leaved Geranium

Waste places and cultivated ground in much of BI

Geranium endressii . . . French Crane's-bill

A garden escape -

G. x oxonianum (Druce's Crane's-bill; a cross with G. versicolor) is v. similar but with stye on fruit >3mm

Geranium herrerae (G. submolle) . . . Alderney Geranium

An introduced casual in CI

Geranium lucidum . . . Shining Crane's-bill

Locally common, often with red lvs and stems

Geranium macrorrhizum . . . Rock Crane's-bill

Widely grown in gardens - sometimes in garden throw-outs

Geranium maderense . . . Giant Herb Robert

Grown in gardens - sometimes escapes esp. in SW En, Scilly

Geranium molle . . . Soft Crane's-bill

Common; pedicels with both long and many short hairs, all stamens with anthers, petals >4 mm (c.f. G. pusillum)

Geranium phaeum . . . Dusky Crane's-bill

Naturalised in much of BI

Geranium psilostemon . . . Armenian Crane's-bill

Widely planted in gardens - occurs in garden throw-outs

Geranium pratense . . . Meadow Crane's-bill

Note the more divided leaves and bluer flowers than G. sylvaticum; meadows in much of Br

Geranium purpureum . . . Little Robin

Smaller than G. robertianum; yellow anthers; local, esp. near the sea in CI and SW Britain

Geranium pusillum . . . Small-flowered Geranium

Cultivated and waste ground over much of BI; petals <4mm and outer 5 stamens without anthers; short hairs on pedicels

Geranium pyrenaicum . . . Hedgerow Crane's-bill

Hedgerows and grassy places exc. N & W

G. x oxonianum (Druce's Crane's-bill; a cross with G. versicolor) is v. similar

Geranium robertianum . . . Herb Robert

Common and widespread in shady places; small plants can be confused with Little Robin

Also white forms:

Geranium rotundifolium . . . Round-leaved Crane's-bill

On banks and walls; Local in S Br and Ire and in CI

Geranium sanguineum . . . Bloody Crane's-bill

Localised on dry calcareous soils, especially in the Burren and N & W Br; elsewhere largely a garden escape

Geranium sylvaticum . . . Wood Crane's-bill

Woods and hedges mainly in N Br

Geranium versicolor . . . Pencilled Crane's-bill

Naturalised in CI and C & S Br

Geranium x cantabridgiense . . . Cambridge Crane's-bill (G. macrorrhizum x G. dalmaticum)

Often grown in gardens, naturalised around London

Geranium x oxonianum . . . Druce's Crane's-bill

Often grown in gardens, naturalised in CI and C & S Br

A number of other spp. are cultivated and can naturalise