Geranium pratense
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Geranium pratense, the meadow crane's-billcite-ref-bsbi07-1-0[1] or meadow geranium,cite-ref-plants-2-0[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Geraniaceae, native to Europe and Asia.cite-ref-3[3] Forming a clump up to 1 m (3.3 ft) broad, it is a herbaceous perennial with hairy stems and lax saucer-shaped blooms of pale violet. It is extremely hardy to at least −20 °C (−4 °F), reflecting its origins in the Altai Mountains of central Asia.cite-ref-rhsaz-4-0[4]
The leaves are deeply divided into 7-9 lobes and 3-6 inch wide and the flowers are pale blue, although getting paler into the centre. The flowers have 5 petals, which sometimes have veins. The stamens have pink-purple stalks with dark purple anthers.
Several cultivars are available for garden use, of which 'Mrs Kendall Clark'cite-ref-5[5] and 'Plenum Violaceum'cite-ref-6[6] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.cite-ref-7[7]
Contents
• Uses
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Uses
Geranium pratense is a melliferous herb. Its nectar secretion is 1.3 – 1.5 mg/24 hrs. with a sugar content (sugar concentration) of 57 – 71 %.cite-ref-8[8]
References
cite-note-bsbi07-11. ↑ citerefbsbi2007BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
cite-note-plants-22. ↑ citerefnrcsNRCS. "Geranium pratense". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 19 January 2016.
cite-note-55. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Geraium pratense 'Mrs Kendal Clark'". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
cite-note-66. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Geranium pratense 'Plenum Violaceum'". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
cite-note-77. ↑ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 42. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
• MSUplants.com - Geranium pratense - Meadow Geranium