BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Geranium richardsonii | Richardson's Geranium 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Richardson's geranium is a native, perennial herb 12 to 36 inches (30-90
cm) tall [21,24,29,40].  It grows from a stout, simple or branched,
sometimes rhizomatous caudex [21,28,42,58,59].  Young plants (1-3 years)
generally do not have rhizomes; older plants develop rhizomes in the
upper 2.8 to 4.0 inches (7-10 cm) of soil [21].  Rhizomes are 1.2 to 6.8
inches (3-17 cm) long and arise from a stout woody taproot [51,58].
Leaves are 1.2 to 6.0 inches (3-15 cm) wide and 2 to 12 inches (5-30 cm)
long [24,26,40].

In addition to rhizomes, Richardson's geranium has a fibrous root system
that can grow from 24 to 28 inches (60-70 cm) deep [21].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Hemicryptophyte
   Geophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Richardson's geranium reproduces by seed and rhizomes [21,51,58].  Bees
are common pollinators, and flower beetles may also pollinate
Richardson's geranium.  It is an active ballist; seed is throw 3.3 feet
(1 m) or more from the parent plant.  Flower beetles may aid in
dispersal.  Seed does not remain viable for more than one winter [21].



SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Richardson's geranium occurs in a variety of habitats including
woodlands, forest openings, grasslands, meadows, and riparian areas such
as stream terraces, alluvial benches, wet valley bottoms, and stream and
lake margins [22,23,26,61].  It is most commonly found in moist areas
[28,40,41,61].

Richardson's geranium grows best on moist to semiwet soils with good
drainage [14,48,51].  It is moderately tolerant of drought [51].  It
grows best on loam, sandy loam, and clayey loam soils derived from shale
and limestone, but occurs on gravelly substrates as well [11,36,48,51].


Elevations for Richardson's geranium for several states are as follows:

       Arizona           6,500-12,000 feet      (1,950-3,600 m) [30,33]
       California        3,960-8,900 feet       (1,200-2,700 m) [26]
       Colorado          5,500-12,000 feet      (1,650-3,600 m) [6,24]
       Idaho             5,900-10,500 feet      (1,770-3,150 m) [61]
       Montana           2,880-7,400 feet       (878-2,257 m)   [22]
       New Mexico        8,000-11,800 feet      (2,400-3,540 m) [1,13]
       Utah              5,725-10,675 feet      (1,735-3,235 m) [51,59]
       Wyoming           5,900-10,500 feet      (1,770-3,150 m) [61]

  


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Facultative Seral Species

Richardson's geranium occurs in seral and climax communities.  It is
shade tolerant, but also grows in some open habitats [14,27,31,36].  It
is a facultative wetland species in California [47], and a facultative
upland species in Montana [9].  Richardson's geranium is a common
understory species in aspen community types, which are usually
successional to coniferous climax types in subalpine forests of Colorado
and the Intermountain region [8,14,36,37].  Richardson's geranium is a
member of aspen stands of northwestern Wyoming that are 81 to 120 years
old [31].  It is a facultative species in aspen and Douglas-fir forests
of Utah [14].  In Utah, Richardson's geranium is present in seral stands
of lodgepole pine [12].  It is a member of the scrub climax and forest
climax communities of the Black Hills [25].  Richardson's geranium
occurs in mature to climax subalpine forests in Utah, which are
dominated by subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce [64].  

In Utah, Richardson's geranium is a chief invader of cattle-grazed
rangelands [16].  



SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Richardson's geranium flowering dates for several states are as follows:

Arizona                       April-Oct     [30]
California                    July-Aug      [40]
Montana                       late July     [34]
Utah                          June-Aug      [21]
Great Plains                  May-Aug       [20]

In the Intermountain West, Richardson's geranium flowers in July and
early August and seed matures in September [51].  In Oregon, seed is
produced in the fall and germinates in March.  Dormancy begins in the
second or third week of August and is complete after the first frost, in
late September [21].
 

Related categories for Species: Geranium richardsonii | Richardson's Geranium