Common Name:

Geranium

Geranium spp.

Also called Cranesbill, True Geranium, Hardy Geranium, Perennial Geranium, Cranesbill Geranium

Geranium is the name of the genus which contains 422 species of annual, biennial and perennial flowering plants. Geraiums are also sometimes called Cranesbills, because their seed pods look a little bit similar to a crane's bill. Most Geranium species are relatively low growing - usually 3-24 inches in height, and they spread by way of underground rhizomes. Geraniums are found all over the world in temperate regions, but they are most common in the eastern Mediterranean region.

Just below the Visitor Information Station at Hale Pohaku there are some clumps of geraniums growing wild. Probably these flowers were originally planted by some well meaning visitor or someone who was working on the mountain temporarily. The person who planted the flowers is gone now, but the naturalized clumps of geraniums seem to like the climate and cindery soil on Mauna Kea. The plants are continuing to grow quite well without any assistance from humans.