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Weed Identification

Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Science Virginia Cooperative Extension

cutleaf geranium

Family

Geraniaceae

Scientific Name

Geranium dissectum
Weed photograph 1
Weed photograph 2
Weed photograph 3
Weed photograph 4
Weed photograph 5
Weed photograph 6

Synonyms (former Scientific Names):

Geranium laxum

Habit

Dissected geranium are found growing in sunlight or shade. Seeds germinate or sprouts emerge in spring and grow through the summer. Flowering occurs from May until frost. Above-ground foliage dies back during winter. Plants are common in tilled areas such as gardens or in lawns, especially where previous disturbance has occurred.

Leaves

Lower leaves are alternate and produce a basal rosette while upper leaves are opposite. Leaves are deeply divided or dissected and have rough hairy surfaces on both sides. Leaves are long-stalked, palmatisect with narrow 1.5-3 mm and acute straps.

Identifying Characteristics

Dissected geranium is similar to Carolina geranium in every way except the sepals and pistil of flowers. While the hairs on Carolina geranium are mostly nonglandular, the dissected geranium has glandular sepals and carpel.

Flower Seed Head

Flowers of dissected geranium are purplish, small, and short-peduncled (5-15 mm). Petals are notched and shorter than the calyx. Sepals are covered with gland-tipped hairs. The flower structure of this weed plant contains 1 smooth valve. It is long, narrow, divided into 5 filiform one-seeded mericarps, with glandular erect hairs on the beak.

Seed Fruit

Seed are reticulate and connected to a long style that rotates with drying cycles and helps seed penetrate material on the soil surface.

Where Found

Dissected Geranium can be found worldwide in temperate regions. It is common in lawns, gardens, and waste places.

Growth Habit

Varies: 
upright and nonwoody, 
prostrate and nonwoody

Thorns or Spines

not present

Approximate Flower Diameter

pencil

Dominant Flower Color

Varies: 
blue, 
purple

Flower Symmetry

radial symmetery

Leaf Hairs

has hairs

Leaf Shape

heart

Leaf Arrangement

Varies: 
alternate, 
opposite

Leaf Margin

Varies: 
lobed, 
serrated

Leaf Structure

Varies: 
simple, 
palmate

Leaf Stalk

longer than leaf

Stem Hairs

has hairs

Stem Cross Section

round or oval

Milky Sap

not present

Root Structure

Varies: 
fibrous, 
taproot

Life Cycle

biennial

Ochrea

not present

Plant Type

Herb