Geum L.
(C.J.W., D.R.G.)
Erect, rhizomatous, perennial herbs. Lvs in basal rosettes and cauline; basal lvs lyrate to imparipinnate or pinnately 3-foliolate, often with a large terminal leaflet and several pairs of smaller lateral leaflets which may be rudimentary, usually serrate or crenate; cauline lvs entire to pinnate, usually decreasing upwards, sometimes much reduced; stipules usually adnate to petiole below. Infl. a lax, bracteate cyme or fls solitary. Fls 5-merous, ⚥, small- to medium-sized, sometimes nodding. Hypanthium saucer-shaped to cylindric, sometimes with a central carpophore. Epicalyx segments usually < sepals. Sepals sometimes reflexed at fruiting. Petals spreading, white, yellow, pink or reddish orange. Stamens numerous. Ovary superior; carpels numerous; styles numerous; ovules 1 per carpel. Fr. a head of many achenes; styles long or short, hairy or glabrous, sometimes elongating at fruiting, sometimes only the basal hooked portion (rostrum) persistent.
Key
c. 50 spp., widespread in temperate and alpine regions. Native spp. 5, naturalised 2.
Some spp. and hybrids are grown in gardens, particularly as rockery plants, and a few are minor weeds of temperate countries. The N.Z. spp. have not been investigated taxonomically in detail; plants formerly treated as G. urbanum L. var. strictum Hook. f. and regarded as indigenous, are treated here as naturalised, with specimens allocated to both G. urbanum and G allepicum.
