丘陵老鹳草 qiu ling lao guan cao

Perennials. Rootstock ± horizontal, 0.6-1.4 cm in diam., not tuberculate, with thickened roots along rootstock. Stem 18-70(-100) cm tall, erect, not rooting at nodes, with 0.2-0.6 mm retrorse appressed nonglandular trichomes and sometimes 0.2-0.6 mm patent glandular trichomes. Stipules lanceolate, distinct. Leaves opposite; petiole with 0.2-0.6 mm retrorse appressed nonglandular trichomes and sometimes 0.5-0.6 mm patent glandular trichomes; leaf blade 2.4-4.5(-9.4) cm, palmately cleft, ratio of main sinus/middle segment length = 0.76-0.85, pilose with appressed nonglandular trichomes; segments 5(or 7), rhombic, 2-7.4(-10) mm wide at base, 4-13-lobed in distal half, ratio of second sinus/middle segment length = 0.19-0.48. Cymules solitary, 2-flowered; peduncle 3.2-15.3(-16) cm. Pedicel 0.5-5.2 cm, with 0.2-0.6 mm retrorse appressed nonglandular trichomes and sometimes 0.2-0.7 mm patent glandular trichomes; bracteoles linear-lanceolate. Sepals 4.8-7.3(-9.3) mm, mucro 0.8-1.4(-2.5) mm, ratio of mucro/sepal length = 0.11-0.37, outside with 0.2-0.5 mm antrorse ± appressed nonglandular trichomes and sometimes 0.3-0.7 mm patent glandular trichomes, inside glabrous. Petals purplish, (0.8-)1-1.6(-1.8) cm, erect to patent, both surfaces glabrous, margin basally ciliate, apex rounded. Stami nal filaments pinkish, lanceolate with a broadly triangular base and an abruptly narrowed apex, glabrous except proximal half with some 0.1-0.6 mm cilia; anthers yellowish or pinkish, 0.9-3.4 mm. Nectaries 5, hemispheric, abaxially glabrous, apex with a tuft of trichomes. Stigma pinkish. Fruit 2.1-3.1 cm, erect when immature; mericarps smooth but usually with 1 or 2 transversal veins at apex, with a basal callus, with 0.2-0.6 mm ± appressed nonglandular trichomes and rarely 0.7-0.8 mm patent glandular trichomes; rostrum 1.6-2.2 cm, with a 2.8-4.5 mm narrowed apex; stigmatic remains 1.3-2.2 mm. Seeds 2.6-2.9 mm. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep. 2n = 28.

Subalpine and alpine meadows; 2200-4200 m. Xinjiang [Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; W Asia, Europe].

This species is usually difficult to differentiate from Geranium pratense if fruit are not available. Leaves of G. collinum are usually with 5 segments, and they are shorter and less divided; staminal filaments and fruit are a bit shorter than those of G. pratense. The variability of this species along its whole area is remarkable and it should be studied more deeply. Montane forms in Asia have a general appearance quite different from plants in the lowlands of Europe, but no consistent character to differentiate them has been found.