Geranium phaeum, commonly called “dusky crane’s-bill” or “mourning widow” or “black widow”, is a herbaceous plant species in the family Geraniaceae.
It is native to southern, central, and western Europe, and in the UK, is cultivated as a garden subject. It has dark violet coloured flowers.
The flower has a stem which grows to about two feet high, leaves nearly round, large, 5 to 8 lobed—lobes cut and serrate, sepals ending in a stiff point; flowers purplish black. This plant in the 1890’s in Scotland was quite rare, found mostly in deliberate gardens. However, in July 1892, the story made the newspaper when local man, Roger Hennedy found it growing actually on the ruins of Blantyre Priory.
Have you seen this plant growing wild in the local area?
