Small purple flower ID

[Oy]

Another 6-8mm flower growing on rocks on St Michael's Mount in Cornwall.

[agrumpycow]

Small-flowered Cranes-bill - Geranium pusillum

Geranium pusillum

Very pretty little flower and probably one of the first of the year

[smartie]

Oh, thank goodness Claire - I thought it looked like a cranesbill but couldn't for the life of me think which one would be that small and flowering now. I can go and have a cup of tea now

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by smartie

Oh, thank goodness Claire - I thought it looked like a cranesbill but couldn't for the life of me think which one would be that small and flowering now. I can go and have a cup of tea now

hehe, glad to be of service

[Oy]

Thanks Claire

[aeshna5]

I can't see enough detail, but I'm pretty sure it's not Geranium pusillum as flower size given is larger than this species + the outer 5 stamens lack anthers in G. pusillum- this doesn't show that feature!

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

I can't see enough detail, but I'm pretty sure it's not Geranium pusillum as flower size given is larger than this species + the outer 5 stamens lack anthers in G. pusillum- this doesn't show that feature!

I came to the conclusion Geranium pusillum through personal recognition and confirmed it to myself via these websites Small-flowered Cranesbill and Geranium pusillum
The size given seems right to me but if you've got any alternative suggestions I'd be interested to hear them.............

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

I came to the conclusion Geranium pusillum through personal recognition and confirmed it to myself via these websites Small-flowered Cranesbill and Geranium pusillum
The size given seems right to me but if you've got any alternative suggestions I'd be interested to hear them.............

I'll admit Claire I can't see enough of the plant to offer an alternative + size can be variable, but the feature about the anthers doesn't fit. The photos you linked don't show the floral features in detail.

Sometimes it's not possible to name a plant from a photo like this- certainly not to key it out. Stace which is the field botanists bible states "outer 5 stamens lacking anthers" for G.pusillum + to my eyes all the stamens in the photo all have anthers! Roses "Wildflower Key" also gives this as a diagnostic feature for this plant.

Maybe somebody else can suggest an alternative?

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

I'll admit Claire I can't see enough of the plant to offer an alternative + size can be variable, but the feature about the anthers doesn't fit. The photos you linked don't show the floral features in detail.
Maybe somebody else can suggest an alternative?

I must admit I'm intrigued by this now look forward to someone coming through with a definitive answer! Does Oy have any other photos which might show leaves or a different angle?

[mrs fish]

Really to id plants you need three shots, the plants with surrounding area, the whole plant and a close up of flower if you wish