Geum geniculatum Michx.

Geum geniculatum Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 300. 1803
Geum virginianum Spreng. Syst. 2: 542. 1825. Not G. virginianum I,. 1753.
Perennial, with a thick rootstock; stem 5-10 dm. high, corymbosely branched above, sparingly hirsute with sometimes retrorse hairs below, more densely pubescent above; leaves very variable, the basal ones petioled, pinnate, 1-3 dm. long; terminal division in the earliest leaves very large, reniform, 5-10 cm. in diameter, slightly lobed and crenate, the lateral ones minute or sometimes lacking; terminal segments in the later basal leaves more flabelliform and more or less cleft, the lateral ones gradually diminishing downwards, cuneate or obovate, the uppermost nearly as large as the terminal one; lower stem-leaves ternate or pinnately quinate, short-petioled ; uppermost leaves 3-lobed and sessile; lobes triangular, acute and doubly serrate; both surfaces of the leaf-blades hirsute; inflorescence corymbiform-paniculate; branches hirsute and tomentose; bractlets linear, one-third as long as the sepals; sepals lanceolate, acuminate, hirsute, in fruit 6-7 mm. long; petals white with strong veins, broadly obovate, as long as or longer than the sepals; fruiting head about 1.5 cm. in diameter; body of the achenes 3.5-4.5 mm. long, hispid with long yellow hairs; lower internode of the style 5-6 mm. long, hispid below, glabrous above; upper internode 6-7 mm. long, short-hispid; receptacle bristly; bristles half as long as the body of the achenes.
Type locality: Canada [probably a misprint for Carolina]. Distribution: Mountain slopes of North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

Geum geniculatum is a species of flowering plant in the rose family known by the common name bent avens. It is endemic to the southern Appalachian Mountains in the United States, where it occurs on only three mountains: Grandfather Mountain and Rich Mountain in North Carolina and Roan Mountain straddling the North Carolina-Tennessee border.

Geum geniculatum is a perennial herb growing 50 to 70 centimeters (20-28 inches) tall. The three-parted leaves are 1 to 1.5 centimeters (0.4-0.6 inches) long. The clustered flowers have white, pinkish, or greenish petals. Flowering occurs in July and August. The flowers are likely pollinated by bumblebees and honeybees.

This may be a relict species, limited in distribution to the peaks of three mountains where conditions are cool and wet enough for it to survive. It grows on moist boulder fields and streambanks. It often grows in shady conditions in a thick herb layer with rhododendrons and other plants.

There are only four known populations of this species, but where it grows it may be locally abundant.