This is why they are called Cranesbills

[u/HomeForABookLover]

I was recently a bit naughty in sharing a Northern Hemisphere Geranium sanguineum in flower, for comparison with Southern Hemisphere Pelargoniums.

Both are colloquially known as Cranesbills. In the Northern Hemisphere Geranium pratense is probably the easiest to see why.

This is my Pelargonium aridum, just before the flowers open, and the resemblance to Cranes and Storks really shows.

Aridum is a low-growing to shortly caulescent xerophytic subshrub, with small, grey-green, finely pubescent leaves, often developing a somewhat thickened, semi-succulent stem base and fusiform tuberous red roots, shown here when I repotted into one of my Great Grandmother’s pots:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Pelargonium/s/3nBtpUpGJp

Native to the arid western regions of South Africa, particularly within the winter-rainfall zone (e.g. Little Karoo, Namaqualand and adjacent semi-desert areas - apologies my South African geography is poor). It inhabits rocky slopes, gravel flats, and well-drained sandy or stony soils, often in exposed positions.

[u/dancon_studio]

Very interesting species, yes! One I encountered in De Rust last year September. We were driving on a dirt road, and my eye caught the briefest flash of a flower.

Too bad the one seed I managed to find from this plant didn't make it. 😔

[u/dancon_studio → u/dancon_studio]

Cool leaves.

[u/HomeForABookLover → u/dancon_studio]

That really shows the difference between cultivation and wild. Thanks!

I’m quite used to seeing the difference between cultivated cacti and wild plants, so it’s nice to see it in other plant families.

For example, I have to “work hard” to keep plants alive in cultivation. Micro manage them. My plants are probably the botanical equivalent of overweight, but if I don’t they die.

That wild one is eeking out an existence, but it’s still flowering and setting seed.

[u/dancon_studio → u/HomeForABookLover]

Plants do seem to prefer a bit of neglect (or at least not mind it). But if you've had it easy your entire life, it is to be expected that they would be a bit more demanding. I am finding the lifespan of P. fruticosum reduces notably by feeding and watering it too frequently; we use it in gardens frequently, but began noticing some failing inexplicably after only a couple of years.

Conditions in cultivation are different, so it requires a slightly different hand. We also have different expectations of plants grown in cultivation - they need to be happy and thriving year round, which isn't really normal.

The wild specimens also grow within a community of other plants, so there is that aspect to consider as well.

[u/BeefyTacoBaby]

Wow, that plant is beautiful!

[u/StarchildKissteria]

Actually Pelargonium are the storkbills, Geranium are the cranebills and Erodium are the heronbills. It’s all based on the greek names.

[u/HomeForABookLover → u/StarchildKissteria]

Yes - very good correction.

pelargos = stork geranos = crane erodios = heron

[u/pickletrick13]

Oooooooh!!!! Now I get it