Wild Geraniums

These Wild Geraniums made an appearance last spring. The true geraniums like the Wild Geranium are somewhat related to the geraniums frequently found in gardens (actually pelargoniums); they're in the same family, but are in different genuses (AKA genera). Both these flowers have a naming connection to birds; geraniums are sometimes called cranesbills while pelargoniums are also called storksbills [1]. Much of the time these names don't make a lot of sense; it's only when they go to seed that the names are descriptive of the flowers. Both flowers produce seeds that (sort of) resemble the bills of those long-billed birds.

Though the Wild Geranium is a native species, it sounds like the Mediterranean region is the world hotbed for geraniums.

May 12, 2023 at Lord Stirling Park
Photo 282422647, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

[1] FWIW cranesbill flowers and storksbill flowers are more closely related than cranes and storks are.

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