Geranium caespitosum James
Similar to Geranium richardsonii, reliably distinguished from it by having nectaries that are dorsally glabrous & style branches 4.5 to 7 (rather than < 5) mm long. Usually, Geranium caespitosum also has magenta or purple petals, while those of Geranium richardsonii are white to pale lavender with darker veins. However, in the Chiricahua Mountains (and perhaps elsewhere as well) Geranium caespitosum has white petals with darker veins, and is easily misidentified as Geranium richardsonii. Similarly, relatively dark-petaled Geranium richardsonii is often misidentified as Geranium caespitosum. Petal color is not reliable.
A flower in Purgatory Chasm near Lake Roberts, Grant County, New Mexico, 11 Jul 2005.
A cauline leaf in Purgatory Chasm, 11 Jul 2005.
A flower in upper Fillmore Canyon, Organ Mountains, Doña Ana County, New Mexico, 21 Sep 2008.
A pale flower in Whitetail Canyon, northern Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona, 19 Sep 2010.
A cauline leaf in Whitetail Canyon, northern Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona, 19 Sep 2010.
Immature fruit in Whitetail Canyon, northern Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona, 19 Sep 2010.
Mature fruit in Whitetail Canyon, northern Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona, 19 Sep 2010.
A pale flower at Barfoot Park, Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona, 5 Sep 2004.
Plant habit, Barfoot Park, 5 Sep 2004.