Geum rubrum - Red Avens

Red Avens is a particularly handsome species, closely related to High Avens, which has yellow flowers. However, Red Avens can be clearly distinguished from High Avens on the basis of several distinctive characters which include: flower diameter - 2.2-2.8 cm in Red Avens vs. 3-3.5 cm in High Avens, shape of pseudo-sepal - elliptic or lanceshaped vs. ovate, number of carpels - 6-8 vs. 10-24) and fruit size - 7.8-8 x 1.6–1.8 mm vs. 3.7-3.9 x 0.9-1.1 mm. It is a perennial herb, with stem erect, 22-28 cm tall, velvet-hairy, hairs glandular. Basal leaves are compound, 12-18 cm long; leaflets in 8-10 pairs, opposite, unequal with at branch-ends leaflet deeply trilobed, margin incised, coarsely sawtoothed, tip round, venation netveined, base flat. Stem leaves are simple, ovate, trilobed, 2.4–3.5 cm long, margin entire, veins prominent on lower surface. Flowers are borne 2–5 together atop the stem. Flowers are showy, 2.2–2.8 cm in diameter, on 1–1.2 cm long stalks. Sepals are 5, triangular-ovate, green, 3.4–3.6 x 1.8–1.9 mm, tip tapering; pseudo-sepals alternate with sepals, elliptic or lanceshaped, minute, 1.3–1.5 x 0.5–0.6 mm. Petals are 5, scarlet red, obovate with an apical notch, overlapping, 3.0-3.1 x 3.1-3.2 mm. Stamens are 76–84, purplish red, about 3 mm long. Red Avens is found in Nepal and Kashmir, at altitudes of 3500-4250 m. Flowering: June-July.