Carpet geranium
Geranium incanum

Family: Geraniaceae

What it is like

A herb. It lies along the ground. It can be a climber or creeper. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems are hairy and have grooves along them. The leaves are feathery and silvery green. They have 3-7 deeply divided lobes. They are silver and felt like below. The flowers are mauve. They are 9-15 mm long and in pairs. The fruit tapers to a long point. The seeds are smooth and brown.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in dry soils. It grows between 1,500-2,560 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa (country/location of origin), Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are used for a tea drink. They are also used as a milk thickener.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea

How it is grown

Plants usually seed freely. It can be grown from cuttings.

It is fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Bergtee, Mannetjie rabassam, Ngope-setshowa, Tlhako

Synonyms

Geranium multisectum N. E. Br.;