Geranium carolinianum is a species of geranium known by the common name Carolina cranesbill, or Carolina geranium. It is native to North America, where it is widespread and grows in many types of habitat. This is an annual herb reaching just over half a meter in maximum height. It has erect stems covered in spiky hairs. The palmate leaves are several centimeters wide and divided into usually five segments which are each subdivided into elegantly pointed lobes. The inflorescence

Inflorescence

An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...

is a cluster of one to several small flowers. Each flower has five pointed sepals and five notched petals in shades of white to lavender. The fruit has a hairy body and a style up to 1.5 centimeters long.

Wildlife use

Noted visitors for nectar include long-tongued bees (Megachile spp.), short-tongued bees (Halictid), and flower flies (Syrphid) whom in the larval stage can be early cool season aphid control. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05550.htmlhttp://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/carolina_cranebill.htm Mourning Doves have been observed eating the seeds.

External links

• Jepson Manual Treatment
• USDA Plants Profile
• Photo gallery