Geranium purpureum Vill.
small herb Robert
Annual or biennial, hairy, taprooted herb, with sprawling to suberect branched stems to c. 30 cm long, and characteristic scent. Stem base sometimes short and thick with a rosette of lvs. Petioles to c. 10 cm long, reddish where exposed to strong light, usually hairy along 1 side. Lamina very deeply palmately divided, 1.5-5-(7) × 2-6-(8) cm, ± broad-ovate, with hairs scattered above, nearly glabrous below, often turning red with age; lobes 5, pinnatisect or less commonly pinnatifid; ultimate segments mucronate. Infl. very diffuse; fls paired; peduncles and pedicels variable, with simple and glandular hairs, often with a line of hairs along 1 side. Sepals (at anthesis) 5-8 mm long including apical awn, ovate, with mostly glandular hairs, ± reddish. Petals 6-9 mm long, ± oblanceolate, pink to rose; claw a little > limb; apex rounded. Filaments pinkish; anthers yellow. Mericarps 2.5-3 mm long, with short hairs; upper ⅔ with many, close, transverse ridges. Seed smooth.
N.: commonest in the Auckland area, but occurring at least as far north as Whangaroa (N. Auckland).
Macaronesia, W. and S. Europe, south to E. Africa 1957
FL Sep-Jan.
Because of the great similarity of this sp. to G. robertianum, the 2 spp. have sometimes been confused. The combination of small petals, yellow pollen, and more and closer ridges on the mericarps are diagnostic features of G. purpureum. Also, G. purpureum is generally more upright and has smaller lvs.
