Herb-Robert

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Robert's geranium
• herb-Robert
• Herb Robert
• mountain geranium

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Geranium robertianum subsp. maritimum
• Robertiella robertianum
• Geranium robertianum f. littorale
• Geranium robertianum f. umbraticum
• Geranium robertianum var. villosolum
• Geranium robertianum var. macropetalum
• Geranium robertianum var. lucidum
• Geranium robertianum var. rubrum
• Geranium robertianum var. eriophorum
• Geranium robertianum var. inodorum
• Robertium vulgare
• Geranium rubellum
• Geranium lebelii
• Geranium palmatisectum
• Geranium eriophorum
• Geranium robertianum f. albiflorum
• Geranium robertianum var. glabrinux
• Geranium scopulicola
• Geranium purpureum var. littorale
• Geranium robertianum var. maritimum
• Geranium robertianum var. littorale
• Geranium robertianum subsp. celticum
• Geranium robertianum var. album

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Geraniales and the family Geraniaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Geranium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing naturally throughout the landscapes of Denmark. Its presence is also well-documented across the territories of Finland and Norway. Furthermore, the species is commonly distributed throughout Great Britain. Finally, this medicinal plant is also a native part of the Irish countryside.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Geranium robertianum is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1900 m AMSL. This wide vertical distribution allows the species to inhabit diverse environmental conditions within its range. Specifically, the plant is commonly found in specialized ecosystems such as Campo de Altitude and Campo Limpo, where its presence is adapted to the unique light, soil, and moisture profiles of these open and highland habitats.

Elevational range max:

1900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Campo de Altitude, Campo Limpo

Life history

The life history of Geranium robertianum is characterized by a variable lifecycle that can function as an annual, biennial, or perennial, depending on environmental conditions and resource availability. As a therophyte, the plant completes its life cycle through a highly efficient reproductive strategy, often surviving unfavorable seasons through seed production. Furthermore, its vegetative nature is classified as deciduous, meaning it sheds its foliage in response to seasonal changes or environmental stressors to conserve energy and moisture.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Geranium robertianum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This terrestrial species exhibits an ascending shoot orientation and is self-supporting in its growth habit, rather than acting as a climber or liana. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. In terms of stature, the plant is relatively small, with a height that ranges from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.6 m, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 0.2585 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.2585 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Geranium robertianum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which facilitates carbon fixation through the standard Calvin cycle. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil-based nutrient uptake. Its leaf morphology plays a significant role in its physiological efficiency, featuring a pinnate leaf form with a mean leaf size of 12.24 cm². The dimensions of these leaves vary considerably, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 9 cm, while the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 3 cm and a maximum of 10 cm (with a mean width of 10 cm). Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 326.83 cm²/g, reflecting its resource allocation strategy and leaf density.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

pinnate

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf size mean:

12.24 cm²

Leaf width mean:

10 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

326.83 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Geranium robertianum is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insects such as bees. The flowering period typically begins in May and extends through August, featuring red flowers that measure between 1 cm and 1.3 cm in length. While the plant is capable of self-fertilization, it does not engage in asexual reproduction. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry fruits with an average length of 1.15 cm (ranging from 1.9 cm to 2.3 cm) and an average width of 0.3 cm. The seeds produced are small and uniform, with a consistent length of 1.3 mm and a volume of approximately 1.1 mm³. These seeds possess a mean mass of 0.0014619545 g, with individual weights ranging from a minimum of 0.000514 g to a maximum of 0.0022 g. Dispersal of the seeds is categorized as unspecialized, allowing the plant to spread effectively through its environment.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flower colour :

red

Flower length max:

1.3 cm

Flower length min:

1 cm

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

2.3 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.15 cm

Fruit length min:

1.9 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

1.3 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0022 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0014619545 g

Seed mass min:

0.000514 g

Seed volume max:

1.1 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Geranium robertianum has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, As, CD, CO, CR.

Flavonoids

1. Natural product research
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

As

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

CD

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

CO

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

CR

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Condensed Tannins

1. Natural product research

FE

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

MN

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

NI

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

PB

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Geranium robertianum has 4 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Neuroprotective.

Antidiabetic

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Neuroprotective

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Geranium robertianum has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include SARS-CoV-2, herpetic keratitis, viral infections.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations