The MGS Forum

Plant identification => Plant identification => Topic started by: Cali on March 21, 2012, 12:42:56 PM

Title: Geranium IDd by Oron as G. molle (also IDd Capsella bursa-pastoris)
Post by: Cali on March 21, 2012, 12:42:56 PM
The pink ones are all over now (March). I think of them as wild gerania but have never come up with anything more specific. The white ones which I think of as wild alyssum is I think Hymenolobus procumbens, but I've never had that confirmed. Oron? Anyone? (I can take more detailed photos)
Title: Re: Wild gerania
Post by: Alisdair on March 21, 2012, 01:04:47 PM
Until Oron corrects me  ;) I'd say that the geranium is Geranium robertianum, and the white flower Lobularia maritima (syn. Alyssum maritimum, A. odoratum, Draba maritima).
Title: Re: Wild gerania
Post by: Cali on March 21, 2012, 02:27:52 PM
Alisdair, the Blamey/Grey-Wilson illustration shows the G. robertianum with reddish leaves of a different shape. The ones I am talking about are bright green and shallowly lobed with a  round rather than elongated shape. See photo below.They also describe it as having a rather unpleasant smell, which again is not the case.  Also B/G-W say the L. maritima has whitish or silver leaves which is not true of the ones here. This book has been my trusty reference/field guide from back when I knew nobody interested or knowledgeble. Is it time to stop trusting?
Title: Re: Wild gerania
Post by: Alisdair on March 21, 2012, 04:48:08 PM
The geranium leaves certainly aren't robertianum - thanks for photographing one. They look more like G. rotundifolium. The "silver" look of the Lobularia leaves is actually a covering of fairly dense hairs on leaves that are basically green - if your plants have hairless leaves, then I guess they can't be Lobularias. A close-up of the flower would help: Arabis hirsuta?
Title: Re: Wild gerania
Post by: Cali on March 21, 2012, 05:16:50 PM
Here is the whole plant--not a great photo I'm afraid but it will serve its purpose.:
Title: Re: Wild gerania
Post by: oron peri on March 21, 2012, 06:02:09 PM
I would suggest Geranium molle and Capsella bursa-pastoris.
Title: Re: Wild gerania
Post by: Alisdair on March 21, 2012, 06:13:47 PM
Thanks, Oron!
Title: Re: Wild gerania
Post by: Cali on March 22, 2012, 05:01:48 PM
Thanks, Oron.