Geranium thunbergii

Siebold ex Lindl. & Paxton

Geraniaceae Edible: Leaves 1,270 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

iNaturalist· cc-by

Summary

Geranium thunbergii (Thunberg's geranium) is a cranesbill species that is commonly known as Japanese geranium or Japanese cranesbill. It is one of the most popular folk medicines and also an official antidiarrheic drug in Japan. It is called ゲンノショウコ. Geraniin is an ellagitannin found in G. thunbergii.

Description

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems are 20-70 cm tall. They can be trailing and form roots at the nodes. The leaves are 2-6 cm long and divided like fingers.

Edible Uses

Young leaves can be eaten, though no further preparation details are given. Older leaves, harvested when the plant is at the peak of its growth, are used as a tea substitute.

Traditional Uses

The young leaves are eaten with oil and salt. The older leaves are dried and used as tea substitute.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The whole plant is astringent.

Distribution

It is a temperate. In China it grows from sea level to 2,000 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, China, Himalayas, Japan, Korea, Russia, Slovenia, Taiwan,

Cultivation

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 clumps in spring or autumn — larger clumps can go directly into permanent positions, but smaller ones are best potted up and grown on in a cold frame until well rooted, then planted out in spring.

Other Uses

None known

Notes

There are about 300-400 Geranium species. They are mostly temperate.

Also Known As

Chuisoni-phul, Gen-no-shoko, Thunbergova krvomočnica

References (7)

Chen, B. & Qiu, Z., Consumer's Attitudes towards Edible Wild Plants, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. p 23 www.hindawi.com/journals/ijfr/aip/872413.pdf
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 117
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 110
Paxton's Fl. Gard. 1(12):186, fig. 115. 1851
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/

Show all 7 references