The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

This geranium was seen the other day at Ann's Creek on the Manukau Harbour. Can anyone say which one it is?

Do you have additional images - this is either Geranium solanderi or G. retrorsum - both are (or were) there in the mid 1990's. I can't see enough detail of the growth habit and branchlet hairs to be sure - but suspect this is G. retrorsum as the hairs on the petioles are retrorse. However, to be sure I need to see more - especially as the flowering colour is not typical of either species - this may be caused by your camera (?)

Thanks for that. I'll upload a couple more images in the hope that they can help. Re the flower colour, definitely pink, though one of the new photos makes the flower look white because of glare. We have geranium solanderi at home, and they always flower pink. To my unpractised eye the general look of the plant (including leaves) was quite different to G. solanderi, so was thinking it would be G. retrorsum (hoping this is the case as it seems to quite rare).

And now a further photo...

Geranium solanderi - thanks that second image is very useful - see http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/4497006 and http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/2000575 cf. Geranium retrorsum - http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/6131806, http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/6133695 and http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/8832223

Thanks. So what are the key differences that enable you to identify this as Geranium solanderi?

Leaf shape, degree of division and colour (G. retrorsum is distinctly grey-green, the lobing rounded rather than subacute to acute see http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/6131806 which is 'typical' of this species, the flowers are too big and the colour is atypical for the northern North Island G. retrorsum (but not for the South Island (southern North Island) - see images at http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=2139. Lastly the hair disposition on the stems is wrong - the hairs are patent to retrorsum not consistently restrorse as in G,. retrorsum. The flower colour is however, unusual for G. solanderi

Thank you so much - that is plenty to go by!