Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Geraniales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Geraniaceae
Genus
Geranium L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Geranium potentilloides L'Hér. ex DC. (1824)
 Description

Perennial herb, with slender or sometimes fairly stout caulorrhiza. Hairs soft, retrorse or antrorse, generally appressed and often short, sometimes spreading. Stems slender, prostrate or spreading, with ± retrorse hairs; branches usually many. Basal lvs rarely persistent through growing season; petioles to 12–(19) cm long; hairs retrorse and dense. Lamina usually to 3–(4) cm diam., reniform to orbicular or broadly ovate, lobed 3/4-⅞ way to midrib; lobes (3)–5, narrowly to broadly obovate-cuneate, obovate-elliptic, obovate-oblong, or oblong, with appressed hairs on both sides or glabrous above, rounded to acute or mucronate at apex; larger lobes usually with 2 ± oblong or elliptic secondary lobes. Cauline lvs smaller, with fewer lobes. Peduncles (with pedicels) usually 1–3–(4) cm long, filiform, with dense, retrorse hairs; bracteoles subulate or linear-subulate; fls 1–(2). Sepals 3–5–(6) × 1–2.5 mm, lanceolate to elliptic, broadly elliptic or ± ovate, usually with green margin, sometimes completely purple; hairs ± spreading, often very short and antrorse towards apex, sometimes few. Petals 4–5 × 2–2.5 mm, broadly obovate, pink. Mericarps 2–3 mm long, with ± dense hairs; beak (6)–7–10 mm long. Seed 1.5–1.9 mm long, oblong, distinctly alveolate.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Oct.–Mar.

 Bibliography
Aedo, C. 2023: A Monograph of the genus Geranium L. (Geraniaceae). Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]