3. Geranium endressii J. Gay (incl. G. xoxonianum Yeo, = G. endressii x G. versicolor) (W-Pyrenees) – A rather rare, locally naturalised escape from or relic of cultivation. Perhaps first recorded in 1861 in Deurne (Eksterlaar) but soon reported from numerous, very widely scattered localities, both in Flanders and Wallonia. Well-documented, for instance, from Anseremme, Bonneville, Groenendaal (Zoniënwoud), Torgny, Virton, etc.
Geranium endressii and G. xoxonianum are here treated in the same entry. Typical plants are readily distinguished: the latter usually is a coarser plant with larger leaves and floral characters and usually has paler petals with darker veins. However, as a result of continued hybridisation and selection both now more or less merge. Especially in the herbarium accurate identification is often almost impossible. At present, Geranium xoxonianum seems to be the usual garden plant and it is probably more common as an escape as well.
A record of Geranium versicolor from Alken (Andriessen & al. 1985) turned out to belong with G. xoxonianum (Verloove & Lambinon 2008). Geranium endressii and G. xoxonianum have furthermore been confused in Belgian herbaria with G. xmagnificum, G. nodosum, G. palustre and G. platypetalum.
Geranium endressii and G. xoxonianum are currently among the most frequently cultivated species of Geranium in Belgian gardens and public parks.
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Selected literature:
Andriessen L., Nagels C. & Vannerom H. (1985) Geranium versicolor L., nieuw voor het flora-gebied te Alken (Limburg, België). Dumortiera 33: 36.
Lawalrée A (1964) Geraniaceae. In: Robyns W. (ed.), Flore Générale de Belgique, vol. 4, fasc. 3. Jardin Botanique de l’Etat, Bruxelles: 239-286.
Verloove F. (2002) Ingeburgerde plantensoorten in Vlaanderen. Mededeling van het Instituut voor Natuurbehoud n° 20: 227 p.
Verloove F. & Lambinon J. (2008) Neophytes in Belgium: corrections and adjustments. Syst. Geogr. Pl. 78: 63-79.