Smallflower Geranium

Geranium pusillum L.

Geraniaceae (Geranium Family)

 

▲ seedling 

 

▲▼ young plants

 

▲▼mature, flowering plant

 

 

▲ leaf comparison among annual geraniums:  Carolina geranium (lower left), dovefoot geranium (top center), and smallflower geranium (right) 

 

▲flowers 

 

 

▲ comparison between flowers of dovefoot geranium (right) and smallflower geranium (right) 

 

▲ comparison between flowering stems of smallflower geranium (top) and dovefoot geranium (bottom) 

▲▼ fruit

 

 

▲ comparison of wrinkled fruit of dovefoot geranium (left), with more hairy, but not wrinkled fruit of smallflower geranium (right)

·         Smallflower Geranium: 

o   similar to Carolina geranium, except leaves and plant smaller, less deeply lobed

o   often densely branched, growing 3-15” tall and wide; can tolerate mowiing

o   flowers very small:  usually about 1/8” across and lavender to pale pink, with 5 un-notched or shallowly-notched petals, 5-8 stamens and pale stigma lobes

o   the seed pods are hairy (need magnifying glass to see), compared to more wrinkled pods of dovefoot geranium

o   flower size/color, stamen number and hairy seed pods distinguish it from dovefoot geranium

o   increasing in southwest Missouri