圆叶老鹳草 yuan ye lao guan cao

Annuals. Stem 10-40 cm tall, erect, not rooting at nodes, with 0.2-1.2 mm patent nonglandular trichomes and 0.2-0.6 mm patent glandular trichomes. Stipules lanceolate, distinct. Leaves opposite; petiole with 0.2-1 mm patent nonglandular trichomes and 0.2-0.6 mm patent glandular trichomes; leaf blade 1.2-3.3 cm, palmately cleft, ratio of main sinus/middle segment length = 0.55-0.65, pilose with appressed nonglandular and sometimes glandular trichomes; segments 5, obtriangular, 5-10 mm wide at base, (3-)6-8-lobed at apex, ratio of second sinus/middle segment length = 0.13-0.2. Cymules solitary, 2-flowered; peduncle 1.8-3 cm. Pedicel 0.7-2 cm, with 0.3-1 mm patent nonglandular trichomes and 0.3-0.6 mm patent glandular trichomes; bracteoles linear-lanceolate. Sepals 4.5-6 mm, mucro 0.3-0.6 mm, ratio of mucro/sepal length = 0.06-0.1, outside with 0.4-1 mm patent nonglandular trichomes and 0.4-0.9 mm patent glandular trichomes, inside glabrous. Petals purplish, 6-7 mm, erect to patent, both surfaces glabrous or sometimes inside with scattered trichomes, apex rounded. Staminal filaments whitish, lanceolate, basally slightly dilated, glabrous except proximal half with some 0.1-0.2 mm cilia; anthers yellowish, ca. 0.5 mm. Nectaries 5, hemispheric, glabrous. Stigma reddish. Fruit 1.6-1.8 cm, erect when immature; mericarps smooth, with a basal callus, with 0.2-0.3 mm ± patent nonglandular trichomes; rostrum 1.2-1.3 cm, with a 2-3 mm narrowed apex; stigmatic remains 1-1.2 mm. Seeds 1.8-2 mm. Fl. May-Jun, fr. Jun-Jul. 2n = 26.

Steppes; 900-1400 m. NW Xinjiang [Afghanistan, Kashmir, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; N Africa, W Asia, Europe].

The general appearance of this species is much like Geranium molle or G. pusillum, and it occasionally has been misidentified with these species. However, its rounded petals and smooth mericarps permit an easy identification, which also could be supported by its subspherical and remarkably reticulate seeds.