The Geranium Family (Geraniaceae)
	Family Description	The plants in the Geranium Family are often purple or pink. The most well known are those grown in peoples' homes as pot-plants, known as "Geraniums". The group also includes many other plants including Cranes-bills and Herb Robert.
	Cut-leafed Crane's-bill Geranium dissectum	Why does this plant have such a complicated strange name? The explanation is quite simple. Firstly, the leaves of this flowering plant, are split into long sections and look as though they could have been cut with a knife, hence the "Cut-leafed" part of the name. Secondly, the fruit grows into a long beak-like structure, hence the "Crane's-bill" part of the name.
	Habitat	Waste ground and cultivated land. Grassland, hedgebanks and roadsides.
	Special features	Long, strip-like leaves. Stiff hairs on the leaves. Heart-shaped petals. Soft, downward pointing leaves on the stem. Beak-like fruit. Short flower stalks.
	Reproduction	The fruit develops into 5 portions, each with one seed, joined together in a long beak-like structure. When ripe, the "beak" explodes, exposing 5 black seeds.
	Distribution	Seasonal Flowers from May to August. Geographical It can be found throughout most of Britain, but it is scarce in North Scotland.
	Fun Fact	The seeds of a close relation, the Meadow Crane's-bill, are catapulted out of the seed pods.