Geranium robertianum

Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum )

The Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum ), also Fetid cranesbill or Stinkstorchschnabel called, is a flowering plant in the family of Geranium Family ( Geraniaceae ).

Description

It is a one-or two-year herbaceous plant reaches the stature heights of up to 50 cm. It grows strongly branched, hairy to smooth and flows due to the essential oil a strong unpleasant scent. The three - to five -piece hand-shaped leaves are 3-4 cm long and 3 to 7.5 cm wide. The petioles, 1.8 up to 44 cm long.

The paired -standing, small flowers are hermaphroditic, radial symmetry and fünfzählig. The five sepals are 5-7 mm long. The five pink petals are twice as long as the sepals. The five nectaries are fused ring. Violet anthers are 0.4 to 0.6 mm long. The scars are pink.

The flowering period extends from April until well into the autumn. The flowers are usually vormännlich and are pollinated primarily by bees.

The gap fruit is 1.9 to 2.3 cm long.

Chromosome number: 2n = 32

Ecology

The species is an annual ( or sommerannuell winterannuell ) or a two-year half- rosette plant. She is very friendly and shadow even at 1/25 to 1/ 40 of normal daylight (when seedlings even less ) viable. With the help of the leaf joints it can accurately align the leaf blades for the most light out. Thus, it can also grow in the cave entrances. On the other hand, the plant also tolerates full sunlight, while dark red colored by photoprotective pigments.

It is a twine that is, the petioles of the lower leaves and z.T. also the side shoots on leaf joints bend down and thus act as support on the substrate. This is, inter alia, when growing on rocks and walls advantageous, especially as the petioles also survive the death of the leaf blade.

The flowers are usually vormännliche " Small funnel flowers " that are pollinated mainly by bees; but also the self-pollination is successful by the flowers are bent by the curvature of the pedicel down in the absence of sunshine.

The fruits are 5- fächrige capsules or schizocarps. At maturity, the seeded, nut -like fruit flaps solved by drying out suddenly from the center column, and will be as a whole up to 6 m wide thrown ( dehydration spreader ). Through hair strands on the fruit also Velcro distribution is possible

Dissemination and locations

The Herb Robert is a common Storchschnabelart in Europe, Asia and North Africa. Main habitat is shady, nitrogen-rich locations, often on boulders. It is found up to an altitude of 1500 meters.

Ruprechtskraut was imported as a garden plant in other climates. So you can find it, for example, around San Francisco, California. In the U.S. state of Washington, it is now even considered a troublesome weed. In North America, however, it is only found below 100 meters of altitude.

Use in the garden

Of all the cranesbill types of the Ruprechtskraut was probably first cultivated in the gardens. This is probably due to the fact that it was used more often than others cranesbill species for medicinal purposes. Records of the " Herba Roberti " already existed in the 13th century.

Today, the Ruprechtskraut in the garden is rather rare, as there are more attractive cranesbill species. However, since it also appears by itself in the garden, there will always be tolerated as an ornamental plant.

Use in medicine

Herb Robert has been used in traditional folk medicine as a remedy for toothache, bruises, fever, gout, kidney or lung disease, herpes and nose bleeds. The infusion of the plant has been used as a tonic and was also considered effective against diarrhea. Placed on wounds he is told by antiseptic action. Due to the peculiar odor of the crushed leaves, it is also regarded as mosquito repellent plant.

Geranium robertianum also finds use as an active ingredient in homeopathic medicines. The effects attributed to, especially against urinary tract infections and diarrhea are, but not scientifically confirmed.

Etymology

The name should refer to the holy Ruprecht, the first bishop and patron saint of Salzburg. He is said to have taught the use of the medicinal herb. Also possible is a connection with the Old High German expression rōtpreht ( reddish), which refers to the color of the plant. In Tabernaemontanus ( 1664 ) the species is referred to as Rotlaufkraut, after Rotlaufkrankheit for which she also was considered a cure.

Swell

• Description in the Flora of China. (English )
• Description in the Flora of Pakistan. (English )