Geranium Family:-

There are Cranesbills (Geranium) and Storksbills (Erodium) in the Wild Flower Geranium Family.

Cranesbills are "non-woody plants whose deeply palmately lobed or cut leaves have stipules at their base. Their flowers are some shade of pink, red, mauve or purple, with 5 petals, 5 petals often ending in a bristle, and prominent stamens. Their fruits have 5 segments curling upwards from the base when ripe, and end in a long pointed beak, whence the name 'crane's bill'. The garden 'Geraniums' mostly belong to the closely related tender genus Pelargonium."

Storksbills are "annuals which differ from Cranesbills in their pinnate or toothed leaves, and the long spiral twist to the beak of their fruits. Flowers usually pinkish-purple, with unnotched petals, only half the 10 stamens with anthers." from Collins Pocket Guide to Wild Flowers by David McClintock and R.S.R. Fitter assisted by Francis Rose - ISBN 0 00 219363 9 - Eleventh Impression 1978.

Geranium Family plant table with its Common Name - Botanical Name. Flowering Months Range. Habitat with link to that Gentian to Goosefoot Wild Flower Families Gallery:-

Common Name

Botanical Name

Flowering Months

Habitat

CRANESBILLS

Bloody Cranesbill

(Blutroter Storchschnabel in Germany, blodnäva in Sweden, bloedooievaarsbek in Dutch, Bloody Geranium in USA)

Geranium sanguineum

June-August

A rhizomatous, perennial herb of base-rich grasslands and scrub, open rocky woodlands, coastal cliffs and stabilised sand dunes; mainly on the coast but also inland on limestone pavements and cliff ledges, and in chalk and limestone grassland. As a native it has a curiously patchy distribution, and is often restricted to localised substrates such as dolerite and serpentine. It also occurs as a garden escape or throw-out on grassy banks, verges, tips and waste ground. 0-420 m (Ingleborough, Mid-W. Yorks.).

Flower from County Clare in June

Flowers

Foliage from Oxwich Burrows on 11 July

Form from Poulsallagh on 12 June

Cut-leaved Cranesbill

(Géranium découpé in France, Schlitzblättriger Storchschnabel in Germany, fliknäva in Sweden, slipbladige ooievaarsbek in Dutch, Cutleaf Geranium in USA, Bodziszek porozcinany in Poland)

Geranium dissectum

(Geranium laxum)

May onwards

An annual of grasslands, hedge banks, waysides and waste ground, and a common weed of flower borders, allotments and arable fields. Generally lowland, but reaching 380 m at Braemar (S. Aberdeen).

Flower from Rochester in Kent on 28 July

Flowers from garden in Rochester Kent in June

Foliage from Rochester on 28 July

Form from Rochester on 28 July

Dovesfoot Cranesbill

(Géranium à feuilles molles in France, Weicher Storchenschnabel in Germany, mjuknäva in Sweden, zachte ooievaarsbek in Dutch, Dovefoot Geranium in USA)

Geranium molle

April-September

An annual found in a wide array of open habitats, including dry grasslands, rock outcrops, cultivated land, garden lawns, verges and waste ground. Generally lowland, but reaching 550 m at Moor House (Westmorland).

Flower from Borough Green in Kent on 7 May

Flowers from South Dartmoor in May

Foliage from Borough Green o 7 May

Form from Borough Green on 7 May

Dusky Cranesbill

(Brauner Storchschnabel in Germany, brunnäva in Sweden, donkere ooievaarsbek in Dutch)

Geranium phaeum

May-June

This clump-forming perennial herb is well-naturalised on roadsides and railway banks, and in churchyards and wood-borders; it usually grows close to habitation as a garden escape or throw-out but is sometimes deliberately planted in the wild. It favours shaded situations and moist, fertile soils. Lowland.

Flower in June

Flowers in June

Foliage

Form

How to grow Geraniums and their landscape uses.

French Cranesbill

Geranium endressi

June-August

A rhizomatous perennial herb found as a garden escape on grassy or wooded banks and roadsides around habitation; also occurring as a garden throw-out on rubbish tips and waste ground. Lowland.

Herb Robert

(Herbe-à-Robert in France, Stinkender Storchenschnabel in Germany, hierba de San Roberto in Spain, stinknäva in Sweden, robertskruid in Dutch, Robert geranium in USA, Bodziszek cuchnacy in Poland)

Geranium robertianum

(Robertiella robertiana)

April onwards

An annual or biennial shade-tolerant herb found on a wide range of soil types, except those that are strongly acidic. Its habitats include woods, hedgerows, walls, shaded banks, limestone pavements, screes and coastal shingle; also in disturbed artificial habitats. 0-700 m (Great Dun Fell, Westmorland).

Flower in May

Flowers in May

Foliage with White Flowers

Form with White Flowers in June

Italian Cranesbill

(kurjenpolvilaji in Finland, Bodziszek korzeniasty in Poland, Rock Crane's-bill in UK)

Geranium macrorrhizum

June-July

A rhizomatous perennial herb, much grown in gardens and occasionally occurring as an escape or throw-out in hedge banks, open woodland and on roadsides, usually not far from habitation. Lowland.

Flower in May

Flowers in May

Foliage in May

Form

Knotted Cranesbill

(Knotige Storchschnabel in Germany)

Geranium nodosum

May-August

A shortly rhizomatous perennial herb occurring as a garden escape or throw-out in wood-borders, hedgerows, churchyards and in rough grassland on railway banks and roadsides, usually close to habitation. Lowland.

Flower in June

Flowers

Foliage in June

Form in June

Long-stalked Cranesbill

(Pied-de-Pigeon in France, Tauben-Storchenschnabel in Germany, geranio in Spain, duvnäva in Sweden, fijne ooievaarsbek in Dutch)

Geranium columbinum

May-August

An annual of dry grasslands and grassland-scrub mosaics. Its habitats include sand dunes, scrubby cliff slopes, hedge banks, field margins, chalk and limestone downland, railway banks and old quarries. It is usually on calcareous soils, and is often a pioneer on disturbed sites. It favours warm, sheltered, often S.-facing banks and hollows. Lowland.

Flower from Yorkshire

Flowers

Foliage in July

Form in July

Little Robin

(klein robertskruid in Dutch)

Geranium purpureum

April onwards

It is an upright annual in stony or rocky places near the sea, on sheltered cliffs, disused railway lines, and particularly by roads and fields on the earth-and-stone sides of Cornish hedge banks. Subsp. forsteri is a prostrate plant of stabilised areas at the top of shingle beaches. Lowland.

Meadow Cranesbill

(Wiesen-Storchschnabel in Germany, ängsnäva in Sweden, beemdooievaarsbek in Dutch, Bodziszek lakowy in Poland)

Geranium pratense

June onwards

A perennial herb of rough grassland on verges, railway banks and streamsides, and in damp hay meadows and lightly grazed pastures, mainly on calcareous soils. Generally lowland, reaching 375 m at Alston (Cumberland), but exceptionally at 845 m on Great Dun Fell (Westmorland).

Flower from Buckinghamshire. Photo by BritishFlora

Flowers from Buckinghamshire. Photo by BritishFlora

Foliage from Buckinghamshire. Photo by BritishFlora

Form from Buckinghamshire. Photo by BritishFlora

Pencilled Cranesbill

(Veiny Geranium in USA)

Geranium versicolor

(Geranium striatum)

May-July

This rhizomatous perennial herb is a frequent garden escape or throw-out, occurring in grassy places on roadsides and railway banks, in hedge banks and wood-borders, usually close to habitation and showing a strong preference for warm, sheltered, often somewhat shaded situations. Lowland.

Flower in July

Flower in July

Foliage in July

Form in July

Common Blue Butterfly on Pyrenean Cranesbill from Ashburton in Devon in May

Pyrenean Cranesbill

(Berg-Storchschnabel in Germany, skuggnäva in Sweden, bermooievaarsbek in Dutch, Hedgerow Geranium in USA, Hedgerow Cranesbill in UK)

Geranium pyrenaicum

May onwards

A perennial herb of hedgerows, roadsides, field margins, rough grassy banks and waste places; often found growing close to habitation, and possibly sometimes occurring as a garden escape or throw-out. Lowland.

Flower from Stood in Kent in June

Flowers from Cuxton in Kent in August

Foliage from Ashburton in Devon

Form from Ashburton in Devon in May

Round-leaved Cranesbill

(Géranium à feuilles rondes in France, Rundblättriger Storchenschnabel in Germany, geranio in Spain, ronde ooievaarsbek in Dutch, Roundleaf Geranium in USA)

Geranium rotundifolium

June-August

An annual of hedgerows, dry roadside-banks and wall-tops, especially close to the sea, but spreading to roadside verges, rubble heaps, railway ballast and waste ground. It is also a garden and street weed. Colonies may be very persistent, even where the species is confined to weedy habitats. Lowland.

Flower from Strood in Kent in June

Flowers

Foliage from Strood in June

Form from Strood in June

Shining Cranesbill

(Géranium luisant in France, Glänzender Storchenschnabel in Germany, glansnäva in Sweden, glanzige ooievaarsbek in Dutch, Shining Geranium in USA)

Geranium lucidum

May-August

An annual of roadside-banks, rock outcrops and scree, preferring calcareous soils and characteristic of limestone districts. It is widespread in artificial habitats, including mortared walls, churchyards, roadsides, waste ground and railway ballast; also as an escape from gardens. Generally lowland, but reaching 610 m at Melmerby High Scar (Cumberland).

Flower from Monks Dale on 21 May

Foliage from Monks Dale on 21 May

Foliage from Lough Aleenaun Clare on 13 June

Form from Deep Dale in Derbyshire on 26 May

Small-Flowered Cranesbill

(sparvnäva in Sweden, kleine ooievaarsbek in Dutch, Small Geranium in USA)

Geranium pusillum

May onwards

An annual of cultivated land, open summer-droughted grasslands, roadsides and waste places, thriving in well-drained, sandy soils. Lowland.

Flower from North Yorkshire in June

Flowers in June

Foliage from North Yorkshire in June

Form from Norfolk in September

Wood Cranesbill

(Wald-Storchschnabel in Germany, midsommarblomster in Sweden, Woodland Geranium in USA, Bodziszek lesny in Poland)

Geranium sylvaticum

June-July

A stoutly rhizomatous perennial herb of hay meadows, ungrazed damp woodlands, streamsides and mountain rock ledges, and in many areas a characteristic feature of laneside hedge banks and verges. Mainly upland, to 1005 m on Ben Lawers (Mid Perth).

Flower in June

Flower from Liechenstein on 17 May

Foliage in June

Form from Vaduz in Liechenstein on 19 May

STORKSBILLS

Common Storksbill

(Bec-de-cigogne in France, Schierlings-Reiherschnabel, Gewöhnlicher Reiherschnabel in Germany, Peine de bruja in Spain, reigersbek in Dutch, Redstem Stork's bill, 
Alfilaria in USA, Iglica pospolita in Poland)

Erodium cicutarium

May-September

Annuals of well-drained sandy and rocky places, sand dunes, summer-parched grasslands and heaths; they are also found on roadsides, stone walls and railway ballast, and are common wool aliens. Generally lowland, but reaching 420 m on Kirkstone Pass (Westmorland).

Flower from Oxwich Burrows on 11 July

Flowers from Norfolk in June

Foliage from Kenfig Burrows on 9 July

Form from Chesil Beach in June

Musk Storksbill

(Bec-de-cigogne, musqué in France, Moschus-Reiherschnabel in Germany, almizclera in Spain, Musky Stork's bill in USA)

Erodium moschatum

May onwards

An annual of barish places near the sea, in disturbed sand dunes, on roadsides, wall-tops, field margins and waste ground. In the Isles of Scilly it is a frequent bulb-field weed. It is recorded inland as a casual, sometimes introduced with wool shoddy. Lowland.

Sea Storksbill

Erodium maritimum

May-August

An annual of trampled or closely-grazed cliff-top grasslands, disturbed sand dunes and gull-infested sea-cliffs, and around coastal settlements on walls and pavements. Inland, it has been recorded from limestone grassland (Somerset), in heathland areas by sandy tracks and gravel workings and, rarely, as an introduction on railway ballast. Lowland.

Dear Mr. Cameron,
Please find below a suggestion for fixing England 's economy.

Instead of giving billions of pounds to banks that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan:-


You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan:
There are about 10 million people over 50 in the work force.
Pay them £1 million each severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:
1) They MUST retire.
Ten million job openings - unemployment fixed
2) They MUST buy a new British car.
Ten million cars ordered - Car Industry fixed
3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage -
Housing Crisis fixed
4) They MUST send their kids to school/college/university -
Crime rate fixed
5) They MUST buy £100 WORTH of alcohol/tobacco a week .....
and there's your money back in duty/tax etc
6) Instead of stuffing around with the carbon emissions trading scheme that makes us pay for the major polluters, tell the greedy ··········· to reduce their pollution emissions by 75% within 5 years or we shut them down.
It can't get any easier than that!
P.S. If more money is needed, have all members of parliament pay back their falsely claimed expenses and second home allowances
  

Also………..
Let's put the pensioners in jail and the criminals in a nursing home.
This way the pensioners would have access to showers, hobbies and walks.
They'd receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment, wheel chairs etc and they'd receive money instead of paying it out.
They would have constant video monitoring, so they could be helped instantly, if they fell, or needed assistance.
Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all clothing would be ironed and returned to them.
A guard would check on them every 20 minutes and bring their meals and snacks to their cell.
They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose.
They would have access to a library, weight room, spiritual counselling, pool and education.
Simple clothing, shoes, slippers, PJ's and legal aid would be free, on request.
Private, secure rooms for all, with an exercise outdoor yard, with gardens.
Each senior could have a PC a TV radio and daily phone calls.
There would be a board of directors to hear complaints, and the guards would have a code of conduct that would be strictly adhered to.

The criminals would get cold food, be left all alone and unsupervised. Lights off at 8pm, and showers once a week.  Live in a tiny room and pay £600.00 per week and have no hope of ever getting out.
Think about this (more points of contention):
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COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Appleby almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the county of Cumbria?
And, they even tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 125,000 illegal immigrants wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq ... Why don't we just give them ours?
It was drawn up by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for centuries and we're not using it anymore.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse or Parliament, is this -
You cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal', 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians..... It creates a hostile work environment.