Your gateway to a wide range of natural resources information and associated maps

Victorian Resources Online

Common Crane's-bill

Back | Salinity Indicator Plants Home | Common name home | Scientific name home | Photo Gallery | Glossary



Common Crane's-bill photos

Scientific Name:Geranium retrorsum
Common Crane's-bill plant
Common Crane's-bill plant
Photo: A J Brown

Other Common Name:

Grassland Crane’s-bill

Status:

Native to southern Australia.

Plant Description:

Ascending to decumbent perennial herb with softly hairy stems to 50 cm long and a thick taproot. Leaves on 2-7 cm stalks, ovate to almost circular or kidney-shaped, 1-2 cm long and 1.5-3 cm wide. Leaves are usually 5-7 lobed with the lobes further divided into three narrow secondary lobes.


Flowers usually paired on a main flower stalk 0.6-2 cm long and individual flowers with stalks 2-4 cm long. Petals 5-10 mm long and pink with yellowish veins. Fruit are 10-17 mm long and coarsely hairy.

Habitat:

Widespread in woodland and grassland. Usually indicative of fresh-water environments, although it can be found on the margins of saline swamps and flats.


RegionSalinity ClassWaterlogging Class
Central and Northern, Wimmera, Western, GippslandS0, *S1W0, W1
*sometimes fringing saline environments

Comments:

One of a number of both native and introduced Crane’s-bill species in Victoria and similar to the weedy pasture Heron’s-bill species (
Erodium spp.) from which it can be distinguished in having carpels that roll upwards when mature, rather than spiralling.

Common Cane's-bill photos

Leaves of Common Crane's-bill
Leaves of Common Crane's-bill
Photo: A J Brown
Leaves and buds of Common Crane's-bill
Leaves and buds of Common Crane's-bill
Photo: A J Brown

Common Crane's-bill flower
Common Crane's-bill flower
Photo: A J Brown

Common Crane's-bill flower
Common Crane's-bill flower
Photo: A J Brown

Page top