Carried by 3 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Geranium viscosissimum, commonly known as the sticky purple geranium, is a perennial in the Geraniaceae family of flowering plants. It is thought to be a protocarnivorous plant. In his 1999 journal article, G.G. Spomer tested several plants in the Pacific Northwest for the carnivorous syndrome, using the digestion of proteins as the diagnostic tool to determine which plants appeared to produce protease enzymes capable of breaking down potential prey. Geranium viscosissimum displayed a capability to digest and absorb the 14C-labeled algal protein placed on the sticky trichomes that the plant possesses. However, it is not known whether the digestive enzymes were produced by the plant itself or surface microbes. Additionally, some definitions of carnivory require the plant to gain some tangible benefit in capturing and digesting prey, such as increased seed yield or growth. Such an experiment has not been done with this species.
Perennial herb
2 - 3 ft Tall
Upright
Fast
Purple
Spring
Full Sun, Partial Shade
Moderate
Prefers loamy soils.
Meadows and open places
Northern Juniper Woodland, Yellow Pine Forest, Wetland-Riparian
Butterflies and moths supported
0 confirmed and 10 likely
Glassy Borer
Apamea devastator
Painted Tiger Moth
Arachnis picta
Oblique-Banded Leafroller Moth
Choristoneura rosaceana
Oregon Gem Moth
Heliothis oregonica