Geranium caespitosum James

 by Brenda Bennett, Native Plants of Arizona 2005
Common names: Wild Geranium, James' Geranium, Cranesbill, Purple Geranium, Patita de Leon, Piney woods geranium.(1, 2, 3)
Family: Geraniaceae (1)
Synonymy: There are many recognized varieities of G. caespitosum that were formerly treated as distinct species such as G. fremontii and G. paryii(4)
Etymology: Geranium comes from the word geranos meaning crane, which refers to the plants fruit which looks like a beak. Caespitosum comes from the word cepitose which means mat forming or which grows in clumps (1, 4)

Identification
Growth form: Sprawling subshrub or herbaceous perennial(1, 4)
Roots:
Stem: 18-30 inches long (5)
Leaves: Palmately-veined with deep cuts and rounded lobes; stipules present. Leaves have the look of lions paws hence where the name patita de leon comes from. (1, 6)
Inflorescence/flowers: Five purple petals, with dark purple lines that lead to the center (5)
Fruit: Five-seeded capsule that has a persistent style called a beak, that is woody (1)
Similar species: G. richardsonii looks similar vegetatively but can be separated by its white petals, with pink lines.

Ecology
Life history: Low growing subshrub or herbaceous perennial (6)
Native/introduced: Native to the southwestern United States (6)
Photosynthetic pathway :
Phenology: Flowers from May-September (2)
Distribution: Nevada east to Texas . Common in conifer forests. Foothills to Montane in clearings, meadows, roadsides. From 5000-9000 ft. Found in Arizona in Cochise, Pima, Apache, and Coconino counties (2,3,5,6)

Uses
Root is used by the Navajo for female healing. An astringent for bleeding gums. Gargle for sore throats and tonsillitis. Good forage for sheep (1, 7)

References

1. Hogan, P., Huisinga, K., and Kampe, K. An Annotated Catalog of the Native and Naturalized Flora of Arizona . Arizona Ethno-botanical Research Association. Flagstaff , AZ , 2005.

2. Kearney , T., and Peebles, R. Arizona Flora 2 nd Edition. London , England : University of California Press, LTD, 1960.

3. Foxx, and Hoard. Flowering Plants of the Southwestern Woodlands. Los Alamos , New Mexico : Otowi Crossing Press, 1995.

4. Retrieved [November, 10, 2005] from Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Ferns, and Trees. Schneider, Al and Betty. 2001-2005. http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/Pink%20Enlarged%20Photo%20Pages/geranium.htm

5.Retrieved [November 10, 2005] from DenverPlants.com. NSnare Digital Media. 2003 http://www.denverplants.com/wflwr/html/geran_cae.html

6.USDA, NRCS. 2005. The PLANTS Database , Version 3.5 ( http://plants.usda.gov ). Data compliled from various sources by Mark W. Skinner. National Plant Data Center , Baton Rouge , LA 70874-4490 USA .

7. Busco, J, and Morin, N. Native Plants for High Elevation Western Gardens . Golden, Colorado : Fulcrum Publishing, 2003-The Arboretum at Flagstaff .