Geranium lucidum - Shining Cranesbill - (Geraniaceae)

The first of the cranesbill family to appear in the hedgerows of the UK, Shining Cranesbill is a tiny pink flower of the geranium family, Geraniaceae.

Shining cranesbill in springtime

Cranesbills get their name from the long straight pointed beak that appears at the top of the fruit pod.

Red leaves and stalks of shining cranesbill in summer

As the summer draws on, many of the leaves turn red and develop a waxy sheen. The stalks also turn red, adding a welcome splash of colour after the flower petals have fallen.

The photographs on this page were taken in West Wales in spring and summer.