Stork’s Bill; Cane’s Bill

Geranium carolinianum

Family: Geraniaceae

Plant Description: Annual to 50 cm high with ascending or reclining stems. Leaves palmately lobed, 2-6 cm wide, alternate. Flowers in peduncled clusters, the petals 4-5 mm long, pink or lavender. Fruit separating into 5 one-seeded segments, the long style persisting and hardening.

Plant Trivia: The genus name comes from the Greek, geranios, meaning “crane.”

Field Identification:

Occurrence: Frequent on sandy soils in prairies, openings, and waste places and along roads.

Bloom Period: February-May

Plant Use:

Key to species of Geranium:

  1. Stem hairs mostly spreading…………………………………………….G. carolinianum

Stem hairs downward close-pressed………………………………………G. texanum