Herbario Virtual del Mediterráneo Occidental
Àrea de Botànica, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears
Geranium purpureum Vill.
Family : GERANIACEAE
Genus : Geranium
Synonyms : 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 : Alicante. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castellón. Gerona. Lérida. Tarragona. Valencia.
Distribution in the islands : Cabrera. Dragonera. Formentera. Ibiza. Mallorca. Minorca.
General distribution : Mediterranean
Flowering time : March. April. May. June. July. August. September.
Life-forms : Terophyte.
Habitat : Garriques, fields and roads sides.
IUCN Category : Poco preocupante
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.
