1. Geranium L., Sp. Pl. 676. 1753. & Gen. Pl. ed. 5:832.1754; Boiss., Fl. Or. 1:869.1867: Edgew. & Hook. f. in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 1:428.1874; R. Knuth., Geraniaceae in Engl. Pflanzenr. Heft. 53 (iv. 129):43.1912; Webb in Tutin et al., Fl. Eur. 2:193.1968; Schonbeck-Temesy in Rech. f., Fl. Iran. 69:1.1970; Zohary, Fl. Palest. 2:227.1972.
YAS1N J. NASIR
Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves usually alternate, stipulate, variously divided. Peduncles (1-) 2-flowered. Flowers often showy, regular, usually 5-merous. Petals alternating with 5 nectiferous glands. Stamens (5-) 10, staminodes occasional. Carpels usually 5, adnate, separating septifragally from the central axis at maturity. Ovary 5-lobed. Fruit schizocarpic, of 5 mericarps which remain attached to an elastically coiling stylar axis upwards; mericarps without apical pits.
A genus of c. 400 species, mainly distributed in the temperate zone of N. Hemisphere, but also in the tropics. Represented in Pakistan by 22 species. The large flowered perennials are difficult to key out satisfactorily unless there is ample information on the nature of the underground parts, flower colour, shape and size of the leaves and the fruits. In the key that follows, I have used the following terminology: segments for primary division of leaves; lobes for secondary division. The sepal length excludes the awn. The beak length (in fruit) excludes the styles.
Species indet. or little known.
21. Geranium Sp.
Hispar Vy., glacier, left bank, Turmun Makerum, 11-11,500', R.S. Russell 1223 (BM).
Rhizome horizontal, stem ascending, slender. Leaves suborbicular with 7 segments. Segments not exceeding 24 mm in length, lobes blunt, obtuse, petiole of lower cauline leaves long and slender, lamina pilose; stipule 8 mm long. Peduncle 11.5 cm long, 2-flowered; glandular hairy; bract lanceolate, largest 7 mm long. Flowers 2, sessile. Petal base ciliate.
The plant specimen resembles in facies Geranium collinum but has very short blunt and obtuse leaf segment lobes and flowers that are almost sessile. More plant material of this Geranium species is required for further study.
Geranium pinetophilum R. Knuth. Notizbl. 14.352.1939.
Type: Astor Dist. near Nanga Parbat, Rakhiot Valley, Troll 7637 (B).
Knuth’s material was destroyed in the Berlin fire. The species appears to be related to Geranium pretense ssp. stewartianum but differs in the lighter coloured flower, which Knuth states to be pink-white with dark nerves. May also be allied to Geranium himalayense.
