Herb-Robert facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Herb-Robert
Scientific classification
Genus:	Geranium
Species:	robertianum
Synonyms
Robertiella robertiana

Geranium robertianum, often called herb-Robert, is a common wild plant. It's also known by fun names like red robin or stinking Bob. This plant is a type of cranesbill. You can find it growing naturally in Europe, parts of Asia, North America, and North Africa.

What it Looks Like

Herb-Robert is a small plant that can grow up to 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) tall. It can be an annual (grows for one year) or a biennial (grows for two years).

It has small, pink flowers with five petals. These flowers are about 8 to 14 millimeters wide. You can see them blooming from April all the way until autumn.

The leaves of the plant are deeply cut, almost like fingers on a hand. The stems often have a reddish color. As the flowering season ends, the leaves also turn red.

Where it Grows

Herb-Robert is mostly found across Europe. It grows from the Mediterranean coast in the south up to the Baltic Sea in the north. You can also find it from the British Isles in the west to the Caucasus mountains in the east. It also grows in eastern North America.

In western North America, this plant has spread from gardens. It is now seen as an invasive species, meaning it grows where it's not native and can harm local plants.

In Great Britain and Ireland, Herb-Robert is very common. It likes to grow in woodlands, hedgerows, rocky slopes (scree), and on shingle beaches by the sea. It can grow from sea level up to about 710 meters (2,330 feet) high in places like Teesdale, England. In parts of mainland Europe, it can even be found above 2,100 meters (6,900 feet) on rocky mountain slopes.

How People Use It

For a long time, people have used Herb-Robert in traditional medicine. This was done in many countries. People used it to help with problems like diarrhea. It was also thought to make the liver and gallbladder work better. Some used it for toothaches and nosebleeds. It was also used to help heal wounds.

The name "Herb-Robert" might come from a person named Robert of Molesme. He was an abbot and a herbalist. This means he studied and used plants for medicine.

If you crush fresh Herb-Robert leaves, they smell a bit like burning tires. If you rub these leaves on your body, the smell is said to keep mosquitoes away.

The plant contains special natural substances. These include tannins, which are bitter compounds. It also has a substance called geraniin and essential oils. These are the parts that give the plant its properties.

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  Typical leaf structure

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  Flower buds

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  fruits

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Images for kids

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  Blossom and bud

See also

In Spanish: Geranio robertiano para niños