Geranium richardsonii
has white flowers with purple streaks growing on single or few erect stems. It
is usually found on moist sites, often under tree canopies in the mountains. A
similar species, Geranium caespitosum,
has a bushier growth habit with many flowering stems. G. caespitosum
grows on drier sites and is the common species of the foothills. Confusion can
arise as many sources describe G. caespitosum as having pink flowers
and G. richardsonii as white-flowered. Flowers of G. caespitosum
are often white, however, so habitat and growth habit are better methods for separating
the species.
