Geranium nepalense
Sweet
Nepalese crane's bill, Nepal Geranium
(c) Rajendra Koranga, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Rajendra Koranga
(c) Tom Norton, some rights reserved (CC BY)
(c) Cheng-Tao Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Cheng-Tao Lin
What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Fruit
The leaves are edible, though no further details are given. The fruits can be chewed fresh; the fruit is a small dry capsule.
Where to Find It
It is a temperate plant. In Nepal plants grow from 1000-4000 m altitude. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Afghanistan, Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam,
How to Identify
A herb. It grows about 50 cm high. The branches have long soft hairs. The leaves have long stalks. They are opposite. They have 3-5 lobes. The flowers are pink with purple veins. The fruit is a capsule. It splits open from the base to the tip.
How to Grow
Succeeds in any moderately fertile retentive soil in a sunny position. Tolerates a wide range of soil types. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits.
Propagation: Sow seed in spring in a cold frame. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and plant out during summer. Divide plants in spring or autumn. Larger clumps can be replanted directly into permanent positions, though smaller clumps are better potted up and grown on in a cold frame until rooting well, then planted out in spring.
Medicinal Uses
The whole plant is antibacterial and astringent. It is prescribed for nervous diseases, numbness of the limbs, pains, rheumatism, and renal diseases. The plant juice is particularly valued in treating renal diseases.
Other Uses
A red dye, similar to that obtained from Rubia cordifolia, is extracted from the root. The root contains 25–32% tannins.
Wikipedia
A perennial reaching 1 m in height. Hardy to UK zone 7. Blooms July to August. Hermaphroditic flowers pollinated by insects. Thrives in light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with mildly acidic to basic pH. Requires full sun and prefers consistently moist soil.
Notes
There are about 300-400 Geranium species. They are mostly temperate.
Names & Synonyms
Bhanda, Bhand, Chunetro ghans, Roel, Thketh-do-thpah
References (7)
- Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 234
- Ding, X., 2021, Collection calendar: the diversity and local knowledge of wild edible plants used by Chenthang Sherpa people to treat seasonal food shortages in Tibet, China. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 17:40
- Flora of Pakistan. www.eFloras.org
- Geraniaceae 1: t. 12. 1820
- Manandhar, N.P., 2002, Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press. Portland, Oregon. p 244
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
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