Genus: Geranium — crane's-bill

The fruit of Geranium has five carpels, each of which has two parts: an egg-shaped lower part called the mericarp body that contains the seed, and an elongate upper part called the carpel beak. The carpel beaks are attached to the styles until the fruit matures, and then each one splits independently from the styles and curls outward with the mericarp body at its base. Most species have carpel beaks that stay attached to the remains of the styles at their tip; this part of the fruit is called the style beak. In some species, its length is needed for identification. References: Aedo (2000, 2001).

Family

Geraniaceae (geranium family)

This genus’s species in New England

• Geranium aequale
• Geranium bicknellii
• Geranium carolinianum
• Geranium columbinum
• Geranium dissectum
• Geranium maculatum
• Geranium molle
• Geranium pratense
• Geranium pusillum
• Geranium pyrenaicum
• Geranium robertianum
• Geranium sanguineum
• Geranium sibiricum
• Geranium thunbergii

Visit this genus in the Dichotomous Key

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