Flora of New Zealand Series

Geranium inodorum Poir. Encycl. Suppl. 2, 1812, 752.

P. clandestinum L'Hér. ex DC. Prodr. 1, 1824, 660.

P. erodioides Hook. in J. Bot. 1, 1834, 252.

P. australe var. erodioides Benth. Fl. Aust. 1, 1863, 299.

Annual to biennial low-growing sparsely hairy herb with rather stout stock. Stems few, procumbent or spreading, sparingly branched, up to 3 dm. or more long; branches glabrescent, grooved. Lvs on petioles up to 7 cm. or more long, basal ones soon withering. Lamina 15-35 × 17-45 mm., broad-cordate, obtuse, subcoriac., glabrescent, very shallowly and obscurely 3-5-lobed, rather finely crenate. Stipules ovate ± scarious. Fls 6-10 mm. diam., in umbels of (5)-10-(15) on pedicels up to 6 mm. long; peduncles very slender, up to ± 10 cm. long. Sepals narrow ovate-oblong, ± awned, ± 3-4 mm. long; spur minute; petals pink to reddish, occ. white, > sepals, spathulate, retuse. Stamens 5, staminodes 5.Carpels up to c. 15 mm. .long, including beak; valves pilose, beak pubescent.

DIST.: Three Kings, N., S., St., Ch. Lowland to lower montane grassland throughout.

FL.- FT. 10-2-(6). Also Australia, Tasmania.