Geum canadense
Geum aleppicum
benoîte du Canada, white avens
Aleppo avens, Aleppo or yellow avens, benoîte d'alep, yellow avens
30–100 cm, glabrate to downy, hairs to 1.5 mm, sometimes glandular.
30–120 cm, hirsute to sparsely hirsute.
basal 10–25 cm, blade simple or pinnate, major leaflets 3–5, plus 0–4 minor basal ones, terminal leaflet larger than major laterals;
cauline 3–8 cm, stipules ± free, 4–13 × 1–7 mm, blade 3-foliolate or simple and 3-lobed to unlobed.
basal 10–35 cm, blade interruptedly pinnate, major leaflets 5–9, alternating with 4–6 minor ones, terminal leaflet usually only slightly larger than major laterals;
cauline 4–19 cm, stipules ± free, 8–28 × 5–22 mm, blade pinnate to 3-foliolate.
3–15-flowered.
3–7-flowered.
densely hairy, hairs of varying lengths, few long stiff ones, sometimes glandular.
puberulent, hirsute, eglandular.
erect;
epicalyx bractlets 0.5–1.5 mm;
hypanthium green;
sepals spreading but soon reflexed, 3–6 mm;
petals spreading, white, obovate to oblong, (3–)4–8 mm, ± equal to or slightly longer than sepals, apex rounded.
erect;
epicalyx bractlets 2–3.5 mm;
hypanthium green;
sepals erect but soon reflexed, 4–8 mm;
petals spreading, yellow, nearly orbiculate to broadly ovate or obovate, 5–9 mm, equal to or slightly longer than sepals, apex rounded, occasionally irregularly notched.
sessile, densely bristly, hairs 1–2.3 mm.
on 2–3 mm stipes, densely downy, hairs soft, 0.3–0.7 mm.
geniculate-jointed, proximal segment persistent, 2–8 mm, apex hooked, usually glabrous, sometimes sparsely hairy or stipitate-glandular, distal segment deciduous, 1–2 mm, pilose in basal 1/2, hairs much longer than diam. of style.
geniculate-jointed, proximal segment persistent, 3–6 mm, apex hooked, bristles on basal 1/3, eglandular, distal segment deciduous, 1–2 mm, pilose in basal 1/2, hairs much longer than diam. of style.
= 42.
= 42.
Geum canadense
Geum aleppicum
Varieties and forms have been described in an effort to classify the variation encompassed in Geum canadense. In the eastern half of the United States, it is by far the most common, widespread, and variable of the Geum species. Nearly all writers of recent floras have not found it worthwhile to apply names to the variants. Perhaps the most distinctive and worthy of further consideration are plants from the southwestern corner of the range in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. These plants, some of which fit Fernald and Weatherby’s description of var. texanum, bloom from late March through May, significantly earlier than the rest of the species, which typically flowers after June first, even in the other southern states.
Geum canadense hybridizes with G. urbanum (= G. ×catlingii J.-P. Bernard & R. Gauthier); see discussion under 15. G. urbanum.
Geum album J. F. Gmelin is a superfluous name that pertains here.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
In the broad area where their ranges overlap, Geum aleppicum is often confused with G. macrophyllum var. perincisum. The two taxa are similar in habit and leaf form and they occupy the same habitats. Mixed collections mounted on one herbarium sheet are sometimes seen. One macroscopic clue useful in quickly sorting herbarium specimens is the color of the dried plants. Geum aleppicum often, but not always, darkens considerably upon drying and appears blackish green; G. macrophyllum is lighter and greener. In G. aleppicum, the epicalyx bractlets are always present and conspicuous; the bractlets are relatively small or absent in G. macrophyllum. In fruiting specimens, the styles of G. aleppicum have bristles at the base and are without glands; the styles of G. macrophyllum lack bristles and are nearly always stipitate-glandular. The bristles at the base of the style are a consistent and useful characteristic in fruiting specimens of G. aleppicum. Other species of avens may have bristles on the achenes; no others (except for occasional specimens of G. laciniatum) have bristles on the styles.
Geum aleppicum hybridizes with G. rivale (= G. ×aurantiacum Fries ex Scheutz); see discussion under 8. G. rivale.
Geum strictum Aiton is a superfluous and illegitimate name for G. aleppicum.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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