# Dove's-foot crane's-bill (*Geranium molle*) Dove's-foot crane's-bill is a lovely little plant with soft, rounded leaves and pretty purple flowers. It often grows in gardens and grassy areas, making the world a bit brighter! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Dove's-foot crane's-bill](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/20170509Geranium_molle3.jpg&width=800) Photo: AnRo0002, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20170509Geranium_molle3.jpg) ## Appearance The Dove's-foot crane's-bill has small, deeply lobed, velvety green leaves often tinged reddish. Its dainty, five-petaled flowers are typically pale pink to purplish, with each petal notched at the tip, making them look heart-shaped. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Geraniales - **Family:** Geraniaceae - **Genus:** Geranium ## Interesting facts - Its name comes from its fruit, which looks like a crane's long beak! - The seeds burst from their pods like tiny catapults, sending them flying! - This tough little plant can grow almost anywhere, even through cracks in pavements! - You can eat its young leaves and flowers, even adding them to salads! ## Special abilities - **Seed Launcher:** Dove's-foot crane's-bill can launch its tiny seeds far away when its dried fruit splits, helping it spread and find new places to grow. - **Fuzzy Shield:** Dove's-foot crane's-bill has soft, hairy stems and leaves that can deter hungry insects or help it retain precious water in dry conditions. - **Flower Power:** Dove's-foot crane's-bill can produce flowers over many months, increasing its chances of being pollinated and making lots of seeds. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-40 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to Fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Helps spread pollen between plants. - **Eats:** [Black slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — Feeds on its leaves and stems. - **Eaten by:** [House sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Eats its small, protein-rich seeds. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before touching or picking plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Dove's-foot crane's-bill? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Dove's-foot crane's-bill? 10-40 cm ### How big are the flowers on Dove's-foot crane's-bill? 0.5-1.5 cm ### When does Dove's-foot crane's-bill bloom? Spring to Fall ### Is Dove's-foot crane's-bill edible? Yes ### Is Dove's-foot crane's-bill toxic? None ### What is Dove's-foot crane's-bill's lifecycle? Annual ### How is Dove's-foot crane's-bill pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Alder Creek Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alder-creek-grove) — California, US · Forest - [Grand Caverns](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grand-caverns) — Virginia, US · Natural Landmark - [Atwell Mill Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/atwell-mill-grove) — California, US · Forest - [Columbia State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/columbia-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park - [Linwood Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/linwood-historic-district) — Maryland, US · Historic District - [Sam Smith Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sam-smith-park) — Washington, US · Park [View all places to see Dove's-foot crane's-bill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/doves-foot-cranes-bill) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Dove's-foot crane's-bill: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/doves-foot-cranes-bill)