Canary cranesbill
Geranium canariense Reut. · Family: Geraniaceae
Herb communities in damp shady places of the laurel forest.
Where it grows on Tenerife
Grows in: North, 300–1000 m · Above 1000 m
Zones are derived approximately from the Cabildo belts.
Photos
From Wikipedia
Geranium reuteri, the giant geranium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Geraniaceae, endemic to the Canary Islands. It was known for many years under the name Geranium canariense. In Spanish, it is called pata de gallo.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0: Geranium reuteri
Description
A robust herbaceous perennial with a short, woody stem. Leaves in a large rosette, broadly ovate, deeply lobed and divided. Inflorescence branched, with flowers 2–3 cm across, pink petals and red stamens. Flowers in spring.
Propagation and growing
The dry fruits of the "pata de gallo" contain a few seeds that are flung out when ripe to disperse; they germinate easily and give vigorous, fast-growing plants. It prefers shady positions and moist substrates rich in organic matter. It is not usually available in native-plant nurseries, but growing it can be ordered only 3 or 4 months in advance.
Garden use
This herbaceous plant can reach up to a metre tall on favourable ground, but normally does not exceed 50 cm. It self-seeds very readily, so it is enough for 3 or 4 plants to establish in strategic spots in the garden for the ground to be carpeted with its colourful spring flowers within a short time (one or two years). It is a very decorative plant for cool, moist gardens between 600 and 1,000 m altitude on the north side of the island. On moist, shaded soils it needs neither watering nor any special maintenance.
Notes
Recommended for restoration work on banks and roadsides within the monteverde (laurel forest) zone, together with other species of similar ecological preferences such as Ranunculus cortusifolius, Pericallis spp., etc.
Protection status
Annex II of the Order of 20 February 1991 on the protection of wild flora of the Canary Islands.
Potential vegetation
Lauro-Perseetum indicae; Diplazio-Ocoteetum foetentis…
Source: Cabildo de Tenerife, “Guía de especies vegetales”, CC BY. Translated from Spanish by us.
Bioclimatic belts
Warm mid-slope belt
- Thermomediterranean, subhumid, with trade-wind fog
- Thermomediterranean, humid, with trade-wind fog
Temperate belt of laurel and pine forest
- Mesomediterranean, lower, dry, with trade-wind fog
- Mesomediterranean, lower, subhumid, with trade-wind fog
- Mesomediterranean, lower, humid, with trade-wind fog
Districts
Anaga · Metropolitan area (Santa Cruz and La Laguna) · Acentejo · La Orotava Valley · Daute