Balkan cranesbill

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Balkan cranesbill
Balkan cranesbill (Geranium macrorrhizum)

Balkan cranesbill ( Geranium macrorrhizum )

Systematics
Rosids
Eurosiden II
Order : Cranesbill (geraniales)
Family : Cranesbill family (Geraniaceae)
Genre : Cranesbills ( geranium )
Type : Balkan cranesbill
Scientific name
Geranium macrorrhizum
L.

The Balkan cranesbill ( Geranium macrorrhizum ), also Großwurzeliger cranesbill or rock cranesbill called, is a plant from the genus of geranium ( Geranium ) within the family of geraniaceae (Geraniaceae).

description

Illustration from Atlas of the Alpine Flora , Plate 113
Foliage leaf
Inflorescences
Bloom in detail
Young fruits

Vegetative characteristics

The Balkan cranesbill is a perennial herbaceous plant that reaches heights of 20 to 50 centimeters. A strong rhizome about 10 centimeters long is formed as a permanent organ . The upright stem is covered all over with short glands and long hair.

The leaves are mainly arranged alternately on the stem and are divided into a petiole and a leaf blade. The petiole is very long. The leaf blade is pentagonal to octagonal in outline with a diameter of about 10 centimeters. The leaf blade is palmate with deeply cutted to pinnate sections. They are split into five to seven lobes that are not very deeply divided or roughly serrated. The leaves are long-haired and densely short-glanded. The two leaves directly below the inflorescence are opposite and sessile. The stipules are pointed-ovate, membranous and dull brown.

Generative characteristics

The flowering period extends from June to August. The umbellate inflorescence contains partial inflorescences with four to nine nodding flowers each. The flower stalks are hairy glandular.

The hermaphroditic flowers are radial symmetry and five-fold with a double flower envelope . The cup is almost spherical. The sepals are up to 11 millimeters long, awned long and reddish. The five mostly purple or bright carmine red petals are 15 to 18 millimeters long, nailed long and bearded at the base. The purple-red stamens are greatly elongated (up to 22 millimeters long) and protrude far from the calyx and the crown. The style towers over the bracts.

The capsule fruits are up to 6 inches long.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 46 or 2n = 92.

Leaves and inflorescence

Occurrence

There are localities for Austria , France , Italy , Slovenia , Serbia , Croatia , Bulgaria , Romania , Albania and Greece . Geranium macrorrhizum is a neophyte in many areas (e.g. Germany) .

Geranium macrorrhizum occurs in the southwest and southern Alps, as well as in the Balkans and the Apennines . The Balkan cranesbill inhabits stony, calcareous soils and rocks in warm locations at altitudes of 200 to 1700 meters . In Southeastern Europe it occurs mainly in the plant communities of the Alliarion association.

Systematics

The first publication of Geranium macrorrhizum was in 1753 by Carl von Linné in Species Plantarum , 2, page 680. The specific epithet macrorrhizum means "large root".

The species Geranium macrorrhizum belongs to the Unguiculata section from the subgenus Robertium in the genus Geranium .

Use as an ornamental plant

The varieties of the Balkan cranesbill are long-lived and easy to use in gardens. Varieties bloom from whitish-pink to carmine-red. The large, palm-shaped leaves have a very aromatic scent that is particularly intense when the leaves are rubbed a little. The Balkan cranesbill is used for underplanting street trees, because on the one hand it is very robust and with its dense growth it does not allow weeds to emerge. Because of the intense smell, dogs avoid this plant.

The Balkan cranesbill is considered a pasture plant for bees .

Zdravec oil is used pharmaceutically .

literature

  • Gunter Steinbach (Ed.): Alpine flowers (Steinbach's natural guide). Mosaik Verlag GmbH, Munich 1996, ISBN 3-576-10558-1 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h Geranium macrorrhizum L., Balkan cranesbill. In: FloraWeb.de.
  2. ↑ a b Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas. 8th edition. Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 . Page 627–628.
  3. ↑ Geranium macrorrhizum at Tropicos.org. In: IPCN Chromosome Reports . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
  4. ↑ a b c d e Geranium macrorrhizum in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), USDA , ARS , National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  5. ↑ Geranium macrorrhizum at Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, accessed October 3, 2018.

Web links

Commons : Balkan cranesbill ( Geranium macrorrhizum )  - album with pictures, videos and audio files