Okay, so get this freaky fact: “after pollination, the petals fall off the flower, and the pistil develops into a 5-parted capsule with beak-like projections. When ripe, each section of the capsule splits off from the others, the stalk curls up, twists as humidity changes, and finally catapults the seed up to 30 ft. away. On the ground, the long tail attached to the seed continues to curl with dry and straighten when wet, pushing the seed over the surface of the ground until it becomes stuck in a small hole or crack (the twisting motion may also help push the seed into the soil).” From Wildflowers & Plant Communities
Like, WHAT??! I didn’t think it to begin with, but this plant is definitely getting categorized as “cool and weird.”
Alternate Name: Spotted Geranium, Cranesbill Size: 1-3' tall Family: Geraniaceae (Geranium Family) Habitat: Part shade and shade, slightly acidic, dry or moist woods, woodland edges, dappled meadows. Identification: "Showy, pink, five-petaled flowers, occur at the top of leafy, 1-3 ft. stem. Lavender flowers are in loose clusters of 2-5 at the ends of branches above a pair of deeply 5-lobed leaves. In addition to its flowers, this perennial is well known for its 5- to 6-parted, deeply cut leaves. It colonizes by thick rhizomes but is not aggressive." From wildflower.org Blooms March-July
