Geranium robertianum (Herb Robert)

FloraFinder uses cookies only for correct operation. More info. Okay

Geranium robertianum L.

Herb Robert, robert geranium, red robin, herb-Robert

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Geraniales	Balsams, mustards, geraniums, wood sorrels, nasturtiums, others
Family	Geraniaceae	Geranium or cranesbill family
Genus	Geranium	From the Greek γέρανος, géranos (or γερανός, geranós), “crane,” because some of the fruits resemble a crane’s bill
Species	robertianum	Derives from the medieval Latin name herba roberti after Robertus (Saint Robert), a French ecclesiastic who was the founder of the Carthusians and died in 1067. It has also been suggested that the name relates to [St.?] Rupert, Archbishop of Salszburg who died 717 or to Robert, Duke of Normandy

About plant names...

Herb robert is a native Europe, Asia, and north Africa. It may be native to North America as well.

Identification: Forking stems (a) are up to 10" (25 cm) long. Leaves are triangular in shape and deeply divided, like those of ferns. Grown in bright sunlight, stems and leaves may be bright red, or red-tinged. Small, attractive pink flowers have five rounded petals (c) that ¼-⅜" (7-10 mm) long; flowers are ⅜-¾" (1-2 cm) in diameter. Fruits are small capsules (f); seeds (g) are brown, ¹/₁₆" (2 mm) long. Fruit capsules of this plant (e), like many other cranesbills, grow a spring-loaded beak-shaped column that triggers suddenly, spreading the seeds. The crushed leaves produce an odor similar to that of burning tires, which is sometimes used as an insect repellent. For this reason it is sometimes called "Stinky Bob."

From Sturm, Johann Georg (Painter: Jacob Sturm), Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen, Nrnberg: Gedruckt auf Kosten des Verfassers, 1796.