Geranium purpureum Vill.

Spice Flower Fruit In the field

Family: GERANIACEAE

Genus: Geranium

Sinònims: Geranium robertianum L. subsp. purpureum Vill.

Catalan common name: Agulles. Gerani. Güelles salades. Herba de Sant Robert. Herba roberta. Rellotges.

Spanish common name: Agujas de pastor. Hierba de la esquinancia. Hierba de San Roberto.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Cabrera. Dragonera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Oakforest. Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Rock crevices and cliff faces. Wild olive trees and other sclerophyllous shrublands. Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata forest. Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Rocky surfaces and dry stone walls. Garriques, fields and roads sides.

Characteristics: This is a very frequent Geranium both in disturbed places (path-sides, rough areas), and in natural zones (rocky and forest areas). Within the Geranium genus it is easy to identify since it has erect sepals, whereas the other species, except Geranium lucidum, have patent ones. The reddish hue it takes is also very characteristic, eventually turning completely red: both leaves and stems; as well as the particular smell which it is not fetid but it is not pleasant either. The leaves, which are lobulate, have a polygonal margin.