Geranium Robertianum. Strong-scented 
Cranes-bill, or Herb Robert. 
GERANIUM Lirneei Gen. PI- Monadelphia Decandria. 
Stigmata quinque. F rudius roftratus, pentacoccus. 
Pali Syn. 335. Herb;e pentapetala: vasculifera:. 
GERANIUM robertianum pedunculis bifloris, calycibus pilofis decemangulatis. Limuei Syjl. V getab. p. 
515.' FI. Suecic. 24 1. n. 619. 
GERANIUM foliis duplicato pinnatis, pinnis ultimis confluentibus, calycibus ftriatis, hirfutis. Haller 
GERANIUM 
GERANIUM 
GERANIUM 
GERANIUM 
hijl. n. 943. 
robertianum. Scopoli FI. Carniol. n. 845. Hudfon FI. Angl. p. 264. 
robertianum primum. Bauhin. Pin. 319. 
robertianum. Gerard, emac. 939. 
robertianum vulgare. Parkinfon 710. Rail Syn. p. 358. 
RADIX annua, fufca, fibris ramofis praelongis inftrudla. 
CAULES plures, diffufi, ramofi, fanguinei ut ut tota 
planta haud infrequenter, geniculis tumidis, 
piloli, pnefertim in junioribus plantis. 
FOLIA oppofita, pilofa, prascipue in umbrofis, unum- 
quodque folium e tribus foliolis pinnatifidis ball 
confluentibus componitur, foliolo medio longius 
pedicellato, laciniis fpinula rubra terminatis. 
STIPULaE ad fingulum geniculum quatuor, utrinque 
bins. 
PEDUNCULI biflori. 
CALYX: Periantiiium decemangulatum, perfiftens, 
foliolis ovato-lanceolatis, nervofis, hirfutis, 
mucronatis,^. 1, 2. 
COROLLA : Petala quinque rofea, patentia, squa- 
lia, lamina fubcordata, unguis linearis, medio 
prominulo fulcato in tres nervos albidos divari- 
cante. fig. 3. 
STAMINA: Filamenta decem fertilia, fubulata, 
plana, alba, bafi cohasrentia ; An t heras pur- 
purafcentes, polline flavo repletae, fig. 4, au£t 5. 
PISTILLUM : Germen quinquangulare ; Stylus fubu- 
latus, villofus; Stigmata quinque, rubra, 
paululum reflexa, fig. 6. 
SEMINA quinque Arillata, lasvia, ovata, fufca ad unum 
latus comprefla, fig. 9 ; Arillus rugofus, 
fis- 7 . 8 - 
ROOT annual, brown, furnifhed with long branched 
fibres. 
STALKS feveral, fpreading, branched, of a blood-red 
colour, as is frequently the whole plant, (the 
joints tumid,) hairy, particularly in the young 
plants. 
LEAVES oppofite, hairy efpecially when growing in 
the fhade, each compofed of three pinnatifid 
leaves, uniting at the bale, the middle leaf 
Handing on the longeft foot-ftalk, the laciniae 
or jags of the leaf terminated by a fmall red 
fpine. 
STIPULAE four at each joint, two on each fide of it. 
PEDUNCLES biflorous. 
CALYX: a Periantiiium having ten angles, and con- 
tinuing, the leaves ovato-lanceolate, nervous, 
hairy, terminating in a point, fig. 1, 2. 
COROLLA : five rofe-coloured Petals, fpreading and 
equal, the lamina fomewhat heart-fhaped, the 
claw linear, the middle part of it prominent, 
grooved, and fpreading into three whitifh nerves. 
STAMINA: ten fertile Filaments, tapering, flat, 
white, connetted at bottom; Anther as pur- 
plilh, filled with a yellow Pollen, fig. 4, mag- 
nified ,fg. s . 
PISTILLUM: Germen having five angles ; Style 
tapering, villous; Stigmata five, red, a little 
turned back, fig. 6, 
SEEDS five, contained within an Arillus, fmooth, oval, 
brown, flattened on one fide, fig. 9 ; the A- 
rillus wrinkled, fig. 7, 8. 
Although our Englifh Geraniums cannot boaft that grandeur and variety of fplendid colours fo confpicuous 
in many of the foreign ones, yet feveral of them are fufficiently beautiful to be entitled to a place in the 
gardens of the curious, particularly the Bloody Cranes-bill, ( Geranium Sanguineum-,) the Crowfoot Cranes-bill, (Ge- 
ranium Pratenfe ; ) the Perennial Doves-fioot Cranes-bill, (Geranium Perenne of Hudfon,) and the Herb Robert which we 
have now defcribed • the latter of thefe grows naturally in woods, but more particularly under the hedges which fur- 
round woods ; it likewife is frequently found in old hollow trees, and not uncommonly on the roofs of houfes Hot 
much expoled to the fun : it is an annual plant ; the feeds fow themfelves in Autumn, foon after the young plants 
come up ; flower the enfuing fpring, and continue to bloflom the whole Summer long, if the plant grows in the 
fhade : towards the latter end of the year, both ftalks and leaves become of a deep red or blood colour. 
The whole plant has a difagreeable fmell when bruifed, by which it will be diftinguilhed from our other fpecies. 
It appears to grow all over Europe, and as a proof of its being Hill more univerfal, Linnjeus mentions its prowing in 
Arabia fcelix. 
A variety with a white flower now and then ocurrs. 
If credit may be given to writers on the Materia Medica, it is a plant of confiderable efficacy in medicine, particu- 
larly as an Aftringent, hence it is recommended in all kinds of Hemorrhages ; and thofe who have the management 
of cattle, arefaid to give them an infufion of this plant when they make bloody urine. — Has not this practice originated 
from the doftrine of fignatures ? It is alfo celebrated as a vulnerary in fchrophulous, cancerous and putrid Ulcers, 
to which either the juice is applied, or the parts fomented with a dcco&ion of the herb ; as likewife in Contufions, 
diflolving the extravafated blood when applied in the form of a Cataplafm; and laftly it is laid to be exhibited with 
good fuccefs in the Stone and Gravel. — How far it merits thefe encomiums future experiments muft determine. 
The herb bruifed and applied to places infefted with Bugs, is laid by Linn.eus to drive them away. 
