[Geraniums of the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Cutleaf Geranium, Cut-leaf Crane's-bill, Cutleaf Geranium, Cut-leaf Geranium

Geranium dissectum

Synonym: Geranium laxum

Flower of Cut-leaf Crane's-bill, Cutleaf Geranium, Cut-leaf Geranium: Geranium dissectum (Synonym: Geranium laxum)

The photo above shows a close-up of the flower of cut-leaf geranium. Note the notched petals which measure 4-5 mm long. Photographed along the old highway between Major Creek and the Klickitat River.........June 3, 2006.
Dissected leaves of Cut-leaf Crane's-bill, Cutleaf Geranium, Cut-leaf Geranium: Geranium dissectum (Synonym: Geranium laxum) Characteristics:

Cut-leaf geranium is an annual with the herbage covered with some downward to spreading hairs, which are usually glandular above. The several stems are spreading to erect and range from 15-60 cm long. The leaf blades are rounded-cordate and 2-6 cm wide. They are palmately compound with the leaf margins parted nearly to the base of the blade (See photo above.). The blade consists of 5-7 major divisions with each division again deeply cleft into linear segments.

The flowers have 5 pink to purplish petals which barely exceed the sepals which are 4-5 mm long. The sepals are bristle-tipped.

Habitat:

Cut-leaf geranium is a plant of disturbed places, such as roadsides, fields, and waste areas.

Range:

Cut-leaf geranium is an introduced, weedy species from Europe which may be found sporadically throughout the central and eastern United States and may be found along or near the Pacific coast from British Columbia to California.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between the elevations of 100'-700' from Troutdale, OR east to near Wind Mountain.

Inflorescence of Cut-leaf Crane's-bill, Cutleaf Geranium, Cut-leaf Geranium: Geranium dissectum (Synonym: Geranium laxum)

The inflorescence of cut-leaf geranium is less congested than that of the similar Carolina geranium (G. carolinianum). Note also the numerous spreading hairs on the stems, leaves and sepals. Photographed along the old highway between Major Creek and the Klickitat River........June 3, 2006.

Dissected leaf of Cut-leaf Crane's-bill, Cutleaf Geranium, Cut-leaf Geranium: Geranium dissectum (Synonym: Geranium laxum)

The photo above shows a deeply dissected stem leaf of cut-leaf geranium. Photographed along the old highway between Major Creek and the Klickitat River........June 3, 2006.

Dissected leaf of Cut-leaf Crane's-bill, Cutleaf Geranium, Cut-leaf Geranium: Geranium dissectum (Synonym: Geranium laxum)

The photo above shows a deeply dissected basal leaf of cut-leaf geranium as seen on the old highway between Major Creek and the Klickitat River.........June 3, 2006.

Cutleaf Geranium, Cut-leaf Crane's-bill, Cutleaf Geranium, Cut-leaf Geranium: Geranium dissectum (Synonym: Geranium laxum)

Cut-leaf geranium as seen near Marsh Cutoff Road in the Memaloose area of the Columbia River Gorge........May 26, 2012.
Paul Slichter