medicinal herbs
Cut-Leafed Cranesbill
Geranium dissectum

• Medicinal herbs
• Natural herbs
• Latin names
• Common names

Herb: Cut-Leafed Cranesbill

Latin name: Geranium dissectum

Family: Geraniaceae (Geranium Family)

Medicinal use of Cut-Leafed Cranesbill:

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.

Description of the plant:

Habitat of the herb:

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

Edible parts of Cut-Leafed Cranesbill:

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

Other uses of the herb:

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

Propagation of Cut-Leafed Cranesbill:

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 of the herb:

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

Known hazards of Geranium dissectum:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.