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