Herb-Robert  (Geranium robertianum)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Description

Herb-Robert is a ubiquitous sprawling plant well-known for its strong disagreeable mousy smell and its cheerful bright pink flowers (4).This odour is referred to by the local names stinking Robert and stinky Bob (4). In folklore it is the plant belonging to the mischievous house goblin Robin Goodfellow (the name Robin is a diminutive of Robert) (5). This leafy plant is generally hairy, with bright green finely divided leaves and reddish-tinged stems (2). It has many varied local names including bloodwort, which reflects the use of the plant in folk medicine to staunch blood flow (5). Although the petals are usually bright pink, white forms arise in some areas (2).

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