Common Crane's-bill

Common Crane's-bill photos

Family: Geranium (Geraniaceae)

Scientific Name:

Geranium retrorsum

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.

Region	Salinity Class	Waterlogging Class
Central and Northern, Wimmera, Western, Gippsland	S0, *S1	W0, 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 Photo: A J Brown	Leaves and buds of Common Crane's-bill Photo: A J Brown
Common Crane's-bill flower Photo: A J Brown	Common Crane's-bill flower Photo: A J Brown

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