Practical
Plants

Geranium dissectum

Cut-Leafed Cranesbill

an annual member of the Geranium genus in the family Geraniaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.6 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Self

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Root - cooked. A famine food, used when all else fails[3].

Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The whole plant, but especially the roots, is rich in tannin[7]. It is antiseptic, highly astringent, styptic and tonic[7]. An infusion of the whole plant, or of the roots alone, is used in the treatment of diarrhoea (especially for children and the elderly), dysentery, cholera, gastro-enteritis, internal bleeding, excessive menstruation etc[7]. Externally, it is used in the treatment of purulent wounds, haemorrhoids, thrush, vaginal discharges, inflammations of the mouth etc[6]. It is best to harvest the roots as the plant comes into flower since they are then at their most active medicinally[7]. The leaves should be harvested before the plant sets seed[7]. Both are dried for later use[6].

Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Styptic
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A brown dye is obtained from the dry flowers[1]. The leaves and roots are rich in tannin[7].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Tannin

Environment

Range
Most of Europe, including Britain, south to N. Africa and east to Iran.
Habitat
Cultivated and waste ground, grassland, hedgebanks etc to 375m[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in any moderately fertile retentive soil in a sunny position[4]. Tolerates a range of soil types[4]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[5].

References

  1. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩

  2. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  5. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  6. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2

  7. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

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