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Bloody cranesbill

 

So, in Northern and Western Estonia and the islands, and quite common on islets in places, but does not grow elsewhere in Estonia. Its flowering started in the second half of June and it will still last in August.

 

Perhaps the most beautiful of all the geraniums or cranesbills with its large purple  flowers, three centimetres across. It likes a light but dryish habitat. The densely growing plant can reach half a metre in height. The modestly beautiful flowers are arranged singly on stems from the axils.

 

 Bloody cranesbill

 

Note also the deeply palmate-lobed leaves. The leaves start turning blood red in September.

 

Bloody cranesbill

 

Does the plant have its name from the crane bill-shaped seeds or from the fact that the leaves turn red in autumn?