Meadow cranesbill

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• meadow crane's-bill
• meadow geranium

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Geranium pratense subsp. sergievskajae
• Geranium transbaicalicum subsp. turczaninovii
• Geranium pratense acknerianum
• Geranium asiaticum var. dissectum
• Geranium pratense var. affine
• Geranium pratense var. pilosocanescens
• Geranium pratense var. dissectum
• Geranium pratense var. vineale
• Geranium pratense f. molle
• Geranium pratense var. pubescens
• Geranium coelestinum
• Geranium pratense subsp. stewartianum
• Geranium mariae
• Geranium pratense var. longebracteatum
• Geranium pratense var. alpestre
• Geranium pratense var. litwinowii
• Geranium pratense var. parviflorum
• Geranium pratense var. pallidum
• Geranium pratense var. album
• Geranium pratense subsp. transbaicalicum
• Geranium pratense var. tenuisectum
• Geranium pinetophilum
• Geranium rovirae
• Geranium transbaicalicum
• Geranium transbaicalicum var. turczaninovii
• Geranium valde-pilosum
• Geranium clarkei
• Geranium batrachioides
• Geranium acknerianum
• Geranium finitimum
• Geranium kashmirianum
• Geranium kemulariae
• Geranium napellifolium
• Geranium neapolitanum
• Geranium pratense var. plenum
• Geranium pratense var. rubrum
• Geranium sergievskajae
• Geranium pratense var. stewartianum
• Geranium lahulense
• Geranium pratense var. variegatum
• Geranium pratense var. subalpinum
• Geranium pratense var. valdepilosum
• Geranium batrachioides var. cyanostemon
• Geranium pratense var. cyanostemon
• Geranium pratense f. subhirtum
• Geranium pratense var. eglandulosum
• Geranium pratense subsp. finitimum
• Geranium finitimum f. subeglandulosum
• Geranium pratense var. pallescens
• Geranium pratense var. buschianum
• Geranium pratense f. subeglandulosum
• Geranium pratense var. diffusum
• Geranium pratense f. rigidulum
• Geranium turczaninovii
• Geranium transbaicalicum f. albiflorum
• Geranium pratense var. albiflorum
• Geranium pratense var. lilacinum
• Geranium rovirae var. purpureum
• Geranium sylvaticum var. batrachioides

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Geraniales and the family Geraniaceae, it is classified under the genus Geranium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Geranium pratense, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark. Additionally, its presence is well-documented throughout the terrain of Finland. The species also inhabits various parts of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its geographical range extends into the northern reaches of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Geranium pratense is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse range of open and semi-open landscapes. It is commonly found inhabiting forest edges, meadows, and shrubberies, where it benefits from the transitional light conditions between dense canopy and open fields. Furthermore, this species is well-adapted to more elevated or exposed terrains, including hills and steppe environments, demonstrating a versatile ecological niche that allows it to colonize varied topographical settings.

Habitat :

forest, forest edges, hills, meadows, shrubberies, steppe

Life history

The life history of Geranium pratense is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Functionally, it is classified as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic matter during unfavorable conditions. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually as it enters a period of dormancy.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Geranium pratense is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth form, specifically classified as a forb. This self-supporting plant lacks climbing or vining tendencies and functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, as it maintains a terrestrial existence. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 0.9 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.408 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.9 m

Plant height mean:

0.408 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Geranium pratense is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing standard carbon fixation processes common to many temperate herbaceous perennials. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the digestion of prey. Its vegetative morphology is defined by significant leaf development, with a mean leaf size of 138.985 cm² and a mean leaf width of 12 cm, which remains consistent across its minimum and maximum recorded widths of 12 cm. The foliage can reach a maximum leaf length of 10 cm, contributing to its overall photosynthetic capacity. Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 211.75 cm²/g, a physiological metric that reflects the balance between its leaf area and its biomass density, indicating its efficiency in light interception and resource allocation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf size mean:

138.985 cm²

Leaf width mean:

12 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

211.75 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Geranium pratense is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being notably absent. The flowering period typically commences in June and concludes in July. Pollination is achieved through a biotic syndrome, specifically relying on insects, with bees identified as a primary pollinator. The plant is capable of self-fertilization, which ensures reproductive success. Following pollination, the seeds are dispersed via an autochorous mechanism. The seeds produced vary in size, with a minimum mass of 0.00637 g, a maximum mass of 0.01135 g, and an average mass of approximately 0.008633 g.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.01135 g

Seed mass mean:

0.008633 g

Seed mass min:

0.00637 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Geranium pratense has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, Hydroxyl radicals, Superoxide, Urolithin C, urolithin A.

1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Hydroxyl radicals

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Superoxide

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Urolithin C

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

urolithin A

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

urolithin B

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology