Geranium molle
{{Short description|Species of plant}}
{{speciesbox
| image = Geranium molle-01 (xndr).jpg
| genus = Geranium
| species = molle
| authority = L.
}}
Geranium molle, the dove's-foot crane's-bill{{Citation |year=2007 |title=BSBI 2007 list |publisher=Botanical Society of the British Isles |url=http://www.bsbi.org.uk/BSBI2007.xls |accessdate=2012-02-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090707234654/http%3A//www.bsbi.org.uk/BSBI2007.xls |archivedate=2009-07-07 }} or dovesfoot geranium,{{Citation |year=1994 |title=Plants of Coastal British Columbia |author=Pojar and MacKinnon}} is an annual herbaceous plant of the family Geraniaceae.
Description
Geranium molle is a small plant reaching on average {{convert|5|-|30|cm}} in height.Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. II, pag. 10 It is a very branched plant, quite hairy, with several ascending stems. The leaves are palmate, cut 5 to 9 times. The basal leaves are arranged in a rosette, the upper ones are sessile, rounded and hairy, with a long petiole of about {{convert|5|-|12|mm}}. The flowers are pinkish-purple, 8–12 mm in diameter, with very jagged petals. It blooms from April to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite and mainly pollinated by Hymenoptera. Fruits are glabrous, usually with 6-9 transverse ridges.
Synonyms
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Distribution and habitat
It is native to the Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean areas, but has naturalized in other parts of Europe, in southwestern and central Asia and in North Africa, though it may have already been in those parts and areas, just not properly identified.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} It is considered an introduced species in North America, where it is known as Dovefoot Geranium or Awnless Geranium. Although non-native in parts of its range, this species poses little threat to native ecosystems.E-FLORA BC: ELECTRONIC ATLAS OF THE FLORA OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
It is found in dry meadows, hedges, banks and forest edges. It prefers sunny places on sandy and relatively dry soils, at an altitude of {{convert|0|-|1000|m}} above sea level.
Herbal medicine
Nicholas Culpeper in his herbal of 1652 suggested a variety of uses for G. molle, including the treatment of internal and external injuries. A note was made that the bruised leaf healed external injuries faster. A decoction in wine was said to relieve gout and other joint pains.{{Citation |last1=Culpeper |first1=Nicholas |title=The English physitian: or an astrologo-physical discourse of the vulgar herbs of this nation |location=London |publisher=Peter Cole |year=1652}}
Gallery
File:Geranium molle Sturm4.jpg|Figure from Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen, 1796
File:Geranium molle 001.JPG|Plant of Geranium molle
File:(MHNT) Geranium molle - leaves, buds flower.jpg|Leaves, buds, flower
File:Geranium molle.jpg|Flowers of Geranium molle
File:Geranium molle IMG 2481.jpg|Close-up of a flower of Geranium molle
File:(MHNT) Geranium molle - Immature fruit.jpg|Immature fruit
File:Geranium molle IMG 2469.jpg|Hairy stem of Geranium molle
File:Jong blad van Geranium molle var. Brutium. Locatie, Tuinreservaat Jonker vallei.jpg|Young leaves of Geranium molle var. Brutium.
File:Wiki-Geranium-Molle-Spring-Automn.jpg|Leaf colouring from spring (top left) to autumn (bottom right)
References
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External links
{{Commons category|Geranium molle}}
- [http://www.kuleuven-kortrijk.be/bioweb/?lang=en&detail=169 Universiteit Leuven Photo gallery] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003094732/http://www.kuleuven-kortrijk.be/bioweb/?lang=en&detail=169 |date=2011-10-03 }}
- [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?4416,4426,4432 Jepson Manual Treatment]
- [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Geranium+molle U.C. Photo gallery]
- [http://www.flowersinisrael.com/Geraniummolle_page.htm Geranium molle] Flowers in Israel
{{Taxonbar|from=Q164017}}
Category:Flora of the United Kingdom