Family: Geraniaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 681 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Geranium
Vegetable: False
Observations: Temp. Northern Hemisphere, Macaronesia, N. Africa to Ethiopia
Description
The Mountain Geranium, known scientifically as Geranium robertianum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Geraniaceae. This resilient and widespread plant can be found distributed across the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including the Macaronesian archipelagos and extending from Northern Africa to Ethiopia.
First described by the eminent botanist Carl Linnaeus in his authoritative work “Species Plantarum” published in 1753, the Mountain Geranium is noted for its adaptability and resilience in various environments. It typically thrives in shaded, moist woodlands and rocky areas, where it forms dense foliage with its trailing stems.
The Mountain Geranium is distinguished by its deeply lobed leaves, which exude a distinctive odor when crushed, a characteristic that has earned it the nickname “Stinky Bob” in some locales. The plant produces small, delicate five-petaled flowers that range in color from pale pink to deep magenta, adding vibrant patches of color to its habitats from spring through autumn.
In addition to its aesthetic contributions to flora, Geranium robertianum has a long-standing presence in traditional medicine and folklore. It has been used historically to treat various ailments, capitalizing on its supposed antiseptic and astringent properties. Modern herbalists sometimes continue to utilize it in natural remedies, although its use is less common today.
Ecologically, the Mountain Geranium plays an important role in its native habitats, providing food and habitat for a variety of insects and other small wildlife. Its capacity to quickly colonize disturbed areas also makes it a valuable though sometimes overzealous element in maintaining ground cover and preventing soil erosion.
Overall, the Mountain Geranium is a hardy and versatile plant, seamlessly blending its ornamental charm with ecological and historical significance. With its wide distribution and adaptability, Geranium robertianum stands as a testament to the diverse and dynamic nature of plant species in global ecosystems.
Common Names
Deu: gewöhnlicher stink-storchschnabel, stinkender st., ruprechtskraut, stinkender storchschnabel
Eng: herb-robert, mountain geranium, robert geranium, robert’s geranium, herb robert
Dan: stinkende storkenæb
Swe: haisukurjenpolvi, stinknäva
Fin: haisukurjenpolvi
Fra: herbe à robert, géranium de robert, herbe à l’esquinancie
Nld: robertskruid
Nob: stankstorkenebb
Nno: stankstorkenebb
Nor: stinkende skovflock
Sme: háisoalitrássi, sahpálatrássi
Cym: blastlys, coesgoch, dail robin, llygad robin, llys y llwynog, llysiau robert, llysiau’r llwynog, mynawyd y bugail, pig yr aran troedrudd, troedrudd, y goesgoch
En: Mountain geranium, Herb-Robert, Robert geranium, Lesser Herbrobert, Robert’s geranium, Herb Robert, Herb Robin, Wren Flower
Ar: إبرة الراعي
Az: Robert ətirşahı
Eu: San Robertoren zaingorri
Be: Герань Робертава
Bg: Зловонен здравец
Ca: Herba de Sant Robert
Zh: 汉荭鱼腥草, 漢紅魚腥草
Kw: Les Robin
Cs: Kakost smrdutý
Da: Stinkende Storkenæb
Nl: Robertskruid, Groot robertskruid
Eo: Robert-geranio
Et: Haisev kurereha
Fi: Haisukurjenpolvi
Fr: Herbe à Robert, Géranium Herbe à Robert, Géranium de Robert, Herbe à l’esquinancie, Herbe rouge, Aiguille à Notre-Dame, Épingle de la Vierge, Patte-d’alouette, Geranium herbe à Robert, Géranium pourpre, Érodium fétide, Bec-de-grue des pierriers, Herbe tangue
De: Ruprechtskraut, Gewöhnlicher Stink-Storchschnabel, Ruprechts-Storchschnabel, Stinkender Storchschnabel, Stinkender St., Ruprechtskraut, Roberts Storchschnabel, Stinkender St.
He: גרניון הארגמן
Hu: Nehézszagú gólyaorr
Ga: Ruithéal rí
It: Geranio di San Roberto, Erba Roberta
Li: Robertskroed
Lt: Raudonstiebis snaputis
Se: Háisoalitrássi, Sahpálatrássi
No: Stankstorkenebb, Stankstorknebb, Urakatt, Stinkende skovflock
Nb: Stankstorkenebb
Nn: Stankstorkenebb
Fa: سوزن چوپان قرمز
Pl: Bodziszek cuchnący
Pt: Nogui
Pt-br: Erva-roberta, Erva-de-São-Roberto, Bico-de-cegonha, Bico-de-grou-robertino
Ru: Герань Роберта
Gd: Lus-an-eallain
Sr: Чешуља
Sk: Pakost smradľavý
Es: Abujones, Aguja de pastor, Agujas de pastor, Geranio de San Roberto, Geranio de hoja redonda, Geranio de monte, Geranio robertiano, Geranio silvestre, Geranio tercero, Hierba de Roberto, Hierba de San Roberto, Hierba de San Ruperto, Hierba de la esquinacia, Hierba de la esquinancia, Hierba de la golondrina, Lentina, Pico de cigüeña tercero, Pico de cigüeña, Yerba de San Roberto, Yerba de San Ruperto, Yerba de la esquinancia
Sv: Stinknäva, Haisukurjenpolvi
Zh-tw: 漢葒魚腥草
Zh-hant: 漢葒魚腥草
Uk: Герань робертова
Cy: Y goesgoch, Blastlys, Coesgoch, Dail Robin, Llygad Robin, Llys y Llwynog, Llysiau Robert, Llysiau’r Llwynog, Mynawyd y Bugail, Pig yr Aran Troedrudd, Troedrudd
Synonyms
- Geranium graveolens (Stokes)
- Geranium neapolitanum (A.Terracc.)
- Geranium modestum (Jord.)
- Robertium modestum (Fourr.)
- Geranium robertianum var. macropetalum (Briq.)
- Geranium robertianum f. littorale ((Rouy) Merino)
- Geranium robertianum var. genuinum (Godr.)
- Geranium eriophorum (H.Lév.)
- Geranium purpureum var. littorale (Rouy)
- Geranium robertianum var. littorale (Rouy)
- Geranium robertianum var. modestum ((Jord.) St.-Lag.)
- Geranium rubellum (Moench)
- Geranium robertianum f. albiflorum (House)
- Geranium robertianum subsp. maritimum ((Bab.) H.G.Baker)
- Geranium pedunculatum (Royle)
- Geranium robertianum var. maritimum (Bab.)
- Geranium robertianum var. glabrinux (Petrova & Kožuharov)
- Geranium palmatisectum (Dulac)
- Geranium robertianum var. rubrum (Lej.)
- Robertiella robertianum ((L.) Hanks)
- Robertium vulgare (Picard)
- Geranium mosquense (Goldb.)
- Geranium robertianum var. album (St.-Lag.)
- Geranium robertianum subsp. celticum (Ostenf.)
- Geranium robertianum var. eriophorum ((H.Lév.) H.Lév.)
- Geranium robertianum f. umbraticum (C.G.Westerl.)
- Geranium robertianum var. villosolum (Pau)
- Geranium robertianum var. lucidum (Gray)
- Geranium lebelii (Boreau)
- Geranium robertianum var. inodorum (DC.)
- Geranium lindleyanum (Royle)
- Geranium scopulicola (Jord. ex Nyman)
- Geranium robertianum subsp. eurobertianum (Briq. ex R.Knuth)
- Geranium foetidum (Gilib.)
Distribution
- Albania (native)
- Algeria (native)
- Altay (native)
- Austria (native)
- Azores (native)
- Baltic States (native)
- Belarus (native)
- Belgium (native)
- British Columbia (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- California (native)
- Canary Is. (native)
- Central European Rus (native)
- China South-Central (native)
- China Southeast (native)
- Connecticut (native)
- Corse (native)
- Cyprus (native)
- Czechoslovakia (native)
- Delaware (native)
- Denmark (native)
- East European Russia (native)
- East Himalaya (native)
- Ethiopia (native)
- Finland (native)
- France (native)
- Germany (native)
- Great Britain (native)
- Greece (native)
- Hungary (native)
- Indiana (native)
- Iran (native)
- Ireland (native)
- Italy (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Kriti (native)
- Krym (native)
- Lebanon-Syria (native)
- Libya (native)
- Madeira (native)
- Maine (native)
- Manitoba (native)
- Maryland (native)
- Masachusettes (native)
- Michigan (native)
- Minnesota (native)
- Missouri (native)
- Montana (native)
- Morocco (native)
- Nepal (native)
- Netherlands (native)
- New Brunswick (native)
- New Hampshire (native)
- New Jersey (native)
- Newfoundland (native)
- North Caucasus (native)
- North European Russi (native)
- Northwest European R (native)
- Norway (native)
- Nova Scotia (native)
- Ohio (native)
- Ontario (native)
- Oregon (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Pennsylvania (native)
- Poland (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Prince Edward I. (native)
- Québec (native)
- Rhode I. (native)
- Romania (native)
- Sardegna (native)
- Saudi Arabia (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- South European Russi (native)
- Spain (native)
- Sweden (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Tibet (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Tunisia (native)
- Turkey-in-Europe (native)
- Turkmenistan (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- Uzbekistan (native)
- Vermont (native)
- Virginia (native)
- Washington (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- West Siberia (native)
- West Virginia (native)
- Wisconsin (native)
- Yemen (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Alaska (introduced)
- Argentina Northeast (introduced)
- Argentina Northwest (introduced)
- Arkansas (introduced)
- Bermuda (introduced)
- Bolivia (introduced)
- Brazil South (introduced)
- Brazil Southeast (introduced)
- Chile Central (introduced)
- Chile South (introduced)
- Dominican Republic (introduced)
- Falkland Is. (introduced)
- Haiti (introduced)
- Illinois (introduced)
- Japan (introduced)
- Juan Fernández Is. (introduced)
- Kentucky (introduced)
- Madagascar (introduced)
- Malaya (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- New Zealand North (introduced)
- New Zealand South (introduced)
- Réunion (introduced)
- Taiwan (introduced)
- Tennessee (introduced)
- Uruguay (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Flower
Taken May 5, 2018 by Hans Pflueger (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 23, 2017 by Tela Botanica − _ (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 17, 2018 by Yan-hui Zhou (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 27, 2018 by Roberto Dessì (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 18, 2017 by lennan bate (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Jan 6, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 10, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 6, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 30, 2017 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 25, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Dec 6, 2021 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 4, 2005 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 10, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 14, 2017 by Carlos Villasante (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 20, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken May 7, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 10, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 10, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 30, 2017 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 30, 2017 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Jun 6, 2020 by Peter Demuro (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 20, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 14, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 30, 2018 by Wolfgang Jauch (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 27, 2020 by Hélène (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Jun 6, 2022 by David Laloi (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 4, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 9, 2019 by Alexander Pappas (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 4, 2022 by Petr Harant (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 9, 2019 by Nils Kieffer (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2890668)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:109269-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Geranium robertianum L.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth
Ph maximum: 6.5
Ph minimum: 5.5
Light: 4
Atmospheric humidity: 6
Bloom months: [‘apr’, ‘may’, ‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’]
Soil nutriments: 7