blood-red crane's-bill

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• blood-red crane's-bill
• bloody crane's-bill
• bloody geranium

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Geranium sanguineum var. sanguineiforme
• Geranium sanguineum var. album
• Geranium sanguineum var. erectum
• Geranium sanguineum subsp. sanguineiforme
• Geranium sanguineum var. elatius
• Geranium sanguineum f. villosum
• Geranium sanguineum var. majus
• Geranium sanguineiforme
• Geranium prostratum
• Geranium sanguineum var. lancastriense
• Geranium lancastriense
• Geranium sanguineum var. striatum
• Geranium sanguineum f. grandiflorum
• Geranium sanguineum var. incisum
• Geranium sanguineum var. prostratum

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 exhibits a specific geographical range across the northern regions of the European continent. It can be found growing within the borders of Denmark and Finland. Its distribution also extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Additionally, the species is present in the northern landscapes of Norway. These locations collectively define the primary habitat for this medicinal species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Geranium sanguineum is defined by its preference for varied terrain, ranging from shaded forest interiors to the sun-exposed margins of forest edges. It thrives particularly well in mountainous regions, where it often colonizes rocky outcrops and calcareous soils characterized by limestone substrates. This species is frequently found integrated within shrubberies and open woodland environments, where it can exploit the transitional light conditions between dense canopy cover and open clearings.

Habitat :

forest, forest edges, limestone, mountains, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Geranium sanguineum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil cover during unfavorable periods. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually as it enters a period of dormancy. Through this lifecycle, the plant effectively manages seasonal transitions, utilizing its hemicryptophytic life form to ensure survival and regrowth in its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Geranium sanguineum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing or vine-like behavior, nor does it function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. In terms of stature, the plant is relatively low-growing, with a height that ranges from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.5 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.217 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.217 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Geranium sanguineum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in varying light and temperature conditions. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake through its root system rather than capturing prey. Morphologically, its foliage maintains an average leaf size of 11.67 cm², providing a functional surface area for gas exchange and light interception. This leaf structure is further quantified by a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 225.5 cm²/g, a value that reflects the relationship between its leaf area and dry mass, indicating its resource allocation strategy for photosynthetic capacity and leaf thickness.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

11.67 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

225.5 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Geranium sanguineum is primarily a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is notably absent in this species. The flowering period typically begins in May and continues through August, providing a seasonal window for pollination. This plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects, with bees identified as a key pollinator. While self-fertilization is present, ensuring reproductive success, the plant relies on these biological agents for much of its cross-pollination. Following successful fertilization, the plant employs an autochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning it utilizes its own mechanisms to disperse its seeds. The resulting seeds exhibit a specific mass profile, with a mean weight of approximately 0.0092975 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00102 g to a maximum of 0.0123 g.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Aug

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.0123 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0092975 g

Seed mass min:

0.00102 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Geranium sanguineum has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include caffeic acid, polyphenols.

caffeic acid

1. Life sciences

polyphenols

1. Life sciences

Activities

Geranium sanguineum has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiviral.

Antiviral

1. Acta virologica
2. Acta microbiologica Bulgarica

Conditions

Geranium sanguineum has 15 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include influenza virus, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, herpes simplex virus type 1, Escherichia coli.

Influenza virus

1. Antiviral research
2. Die Pharmazie
3. Acta virologica

Candida albicans

1. Die Pharmazie
2. Basic life sciences

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Die Pharmazie
2. Basic life sciences

Herpes simplex virus type 1

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Acta microbiologica Bulgarica

Escherichia coli

1. Basic life sciences

Hiv-i

1. Die Pharmazie

Influenza a virus

1. Acta virologica

Klebsiella pneumoniae

1. Basic life sciences

Proteus vulgaris

1. Basic life sciences

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1. Basic life sciences