Geranium caespitosum

Geranium caespitosum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Geraniales
Family:	Geraniaceae
Genus:	Geranium
Species:	G. caespitosum
Binomial name
Geranium caespitosum E.James[1]
Synonyms
Geranium fremontii Torr. Ex Gray Geranium caespitosum var.fremontii (Torr. ex A. Gray) Dorn Geranium fremontii var. cowenii (Rydb.) H.D. Harr. Geranium fremontii var. parryi Engelm. in A. Gray [2][3]

Geranium caespitosum (purple cluster geranium, pineywoods geranium) is a perennial herb native to the western United States and northern Mexico. Its US distribution includes Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.^[4]

It has a purple to red flower with 5 stamens, and the sepals are acuminate, tapering with a long point. It has palmately lobed leaves. The fruit is a schizocarp made up of 5 mericarps. It grows in damp soils, as in the understory of coniferous forests and in canyons.

Uses

The Gosiute use the plant as an astringent and a decoction of the root to treat diarrhea. The Keres use roots crushed into a paste to treat sores, and the whole plant as turkey food.^[5]

Varieties

The four varieties may known by the following common names:

• G. c. var. caespitosum – pineywoods geranium
• G. c. var. eremophilum – purple cluster geranium
• G. c. var. fremontii – Fremont's geranium
• G. c. var. parryi – Parry's geranium

In the United States, all four varieties are found in Arizona and New Mexico, and the purple cluster geranium is only found there. The other varieties are all found in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, and the pineywoods variety extends into Nevada and Texas.^[4]

Image Gallery

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  red individual

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  lilac individual

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  foliage

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  var. fremontii

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  var. fremontii

References

1. In: Account of an Expedition from Pittsburgh to the Rocky Mountains. Philadelphia: H.C. Carey and I. Lea 2: 3. 1823. "Plant Name Details for Geranium caespitosum". IPNI. Retrieved July 5, 2010. [Notes on the type specimen:] Mora River, San Miguel County (New Mexico, South-Central U.S.A, Northern America)
2. Global Biodiversity
3. Catalogue of Life
4. Geranium caespitosum. PLANTS Profile. USDA. Accessed 23 June 2013.
5. Geranium caespitosum. Native American Ethnobotany. University of Michigan - Dearborn. Accessed 23 June 2013.