Biology:Geranium pratense

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Short description: Species of flowering plant

Geranium pratense
Meadow Cranesbill.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Geraniales
Family: Geraniaceae
Genus: Geranium
Species:
G. pratense
Binomial name
Geranium pratense

Geranium pratense, the meadow crane's-bill[1] or meadow geranium,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Geraniaceae, native to Europe and Asia.[3] Forming a clump up to 1 m (3.3 ft) broad, it is a herbaceous perennial with hairy stems and lax saucer-shaped blooms of pale violet. It is extremely hardy to at least −20 °C (−4 °F), reflecting its origins in the Altai Mountains of central Asia.[4]

The leaves are deeply divided into 7-9 lobes and 3-6 inch wide and the flowers are pale blue, although getting paler into the centre. The flowers have 5 petals, which sometimes have veins. The stamens have pink-purple stalks with dark purple anthers.

Several cultivars are available for garden use, of which 'Mrs Kendall Clark'[5] and 'Plenum Violaceum'[6] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[7]

Uses

Geranium pratense is a melliferous herb. Its nectar secretion is 1.3 – 1.5 mg/24 hrs. with a sugar content (sugar concentration) of 57 – 71 %.[8]

References

  1. (xls) BSBI List 2007, Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, https://bsbi.org/download/3542/, retrieved 2014-10-17 
  2. "Geranium pratense". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=GEPR4. Retrieved 19 January 2016. 
  3. Clapham, A.R., Tutin, T.G. and Warburg, E.F. 1968. Excursion Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press. ISBN:0 521 04656 4
  4. Brickell, Christopher, ed (2008). The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 476. ISBN 9781405332965. 
  5. "RHS Plant Selector - Geraium pratense 'Mrs Kendal Clark'". https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/99080/Geranium-pratense-Mrs-Kendall-Clark/Details. Retrieved 11 July 2020. 
  6. "RHS Plant Selector - Geranium pratense 'Plenum Violaceum'". https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/44612/Geranium-pratense-Plenum-Violaceum-(d)/Details. Retrieved 11 July 2020. 
  7. "AGM Plants - Ornamental". Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 42. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf. Retrieved 2 March 2018. 
  8. Haragsim, Oldřich (2007) (in Czech). Včelařské byliny. (Melliferous herbs) (1st ed.). Praha, Czech Republic: Grada Publishing, a.s.. pp. 39. ISBN 9788024721576. 

Wikidata ☰ Q157585 entry