Austral Crane's-bill

Images ©:
©Geranium solanderi var. solanderi s.s. Russel Best CC2.5, Geranium solanderi var. solanderi s.s. Russel Best CC2.5, Geranium solanderi var. solanderi s.s. Russel Best CC2.5

Geranium solanderi


Trailing perennial herb to 50 cm. Round leaves deeply divided into 5-7 narrow lobes each forked two or three times. Paired or single bright pink flowers with distinctly notched petals. Edible round to turnip-shaped taproot.


Details
Flora Type
Herbs
Former Scientific Name
Geranium solanderi var. solanderi
Distinctive Features

Stems and stalks covered with dense short to long hairs at right-angles to the plant. Flowers similar to G. retrosum but twice the size, with narrow lobes.

Biology

Perennial. Common and widespread in a range of habitats. Long-lived species. May persist in disturbed sites. Seed has an awn or bristle that helps it to pierce the soil crust for germination.

Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Oct-Jan

Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Geraniales
Family
Geraniaceae
Genus
Glyceria
Species
australis

Many Geranium species have branched or single tapered tuberous taproots that were roasted as food by Aboriginal people. This species has a turnip-shaped edible taproot. The roots of some species contain high levels of tannins and were used as an anti-diarrhoeal.Listed as a threatened species in Vic.


Interesting Facts
Similar Species

There has been taxonomic studies of Geraniums, particularly members of the G. solanderi complex. confusion with G. beardsdellii, G. pallidiflorum, G. inundatum, G. carrolii, G. ciliocarpum, G. gardneri.

Native Status
Native