How to identify Geranium reuteri (Canary Herb-Robert)
This project collects observations of Geranium reuteri (Canary Herb-Robert) in California for the purpose of facilitating identification and preventing misidentification of this species in iNaturalist.
Vouchers Needed: This species is not yet recognized in Jepson eFlora or Calflora. If you're a botanist, please submit a voucher specimen so that its presence in California can be documented.
Photo tips:
- It’s important to get a picture of the entire plant.
- It's also helpful to get close-up pictures of the face of the flowers, sepals, leaves, and fruits, if present.
- If there are multiple plants in the picture, it’s helpful to crop your photo to focus on the plant of interest.
How to identify Geranium reuteri:
- Stems: Upright, branched stems are covered with purple glandular hairs.
- Leaves: The leaves grow in a rosette from a woody base or short stem and are up to 8 cm (3.1 in) wide with a long stalk (petiole). They are deeply divided into glossy, toothed, dark green leaflets
- Flowers: The flowers are borne on a branched inflorescence. Each flower is 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in) across, and has five sepals and five petals in shades of pink or magenta with white centers and whitish backs.
- Habitat: It occurs in relatively moist woodland habitats, including laurel woods, cloud forest zones and pine woods.
- Growing period: late spring to late summer
Similar Species:
- Geranium robertianum (Herb Robert)
- Geranium maderense (Giant Herb-Robert)
- Geranium macrorrhizum (Rock Crane's-Bill)
How to differentiate G. reuteri from G. robertianum:
- G. reuteri stems are covered with purple glandular hairs; G. robertianum stems are covered in very long white hairs of different lengths.
References: