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Common Name: Cut-Leafed Cranesbill

General Information

Geranium dissectum is an annual plant that can grow up to 0.60 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Most of Europe, including Britain, south to N. Africa and east to Iran.

Habitat

Cultivated and waste ground, grassland, hedgebanks etc to 375m[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

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

Edible Uses

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

Medicinal

The whole plant, but especially the roots, is rich in tannin[]. It is antiseptic, highly astringent, styptic and tonic[]. 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[]. Externally, it is used in the treatment of purulent wounds, haemorrhoids, thrush, vaginal discharges, inflammations of the mouth etc[].
It is best to harvest the roots as the plant comes into flower since they are then at their most active medicinally[]. The leaves should be harvested before the plant sets seed[]. Both are dried for later use[].

Other Uses

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

Propagation

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.