The Wood Geranium 



(GERANIUM STLVATICUM) 



SEVENTEEN species of Geranium or Crane's-bill, so named from 

 the shape of the seed, are met with in Switzerland, and several 

 of them are rather difficult to distinguish from one another. 

 The Wood Geranium is found in England, but is not 

 very common. In Switzerland it is exceedingly abundant on 

 the borders of woods and in rich mountain meadows and 

 pastures between 3000 and 7000 feet. Though a beautiful 

 plant it is by no means welcome to the herdsman, for it is 

 not good for fodder. The finely divided leaves are well 

 seen in the photograph. The purple-blue flowers have more 

 of a tinge of red in them when they first open. The Wood 

 Geranium will be recognised by its erect stem, hairy above, 

 leaves which are arranged opposite to one another, purple- 

 violet flowers with petals that are not notched in the middle, 

 and sepals drawn out to a long point. The Brook Crane's-bill 

 (Geranium rivulare) has white flowers varied with red, and the 

 Meadow Crane's-bill (Geranium pratense) has larger flowers 

 which tend to hang down, and the Blood Geranium (Geranium 

 sanguinum) has unbranched flower stalks and notched petals. 



