Crane’s bill, Mountain cranesbill
Geranium potentilloides
Family: Geraniaceae
What it is like
A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It lies along the ground and spreads 0.5-1.5 m wide. The stems are long, leafy and scrambling. They sometimes root at the nodes. The leaves occur in a ring near the base. These are larger than those on the stem and usually fall off. The leaves are rounded in outline and deeply divided into 3-7 lobes. These are widened above. The stem leaves are 7 cm long by 5 cm wide. The leaf stalks are slender and 4 cm long. The leaves are purplish underneath. The flowers are creamy pink. They are 10 mm across. They are open petalled. They are pink and usually occur singly. They are on slender stalks 5 cm long. The fruit has a beak 1 cm long. The seeds are dark brown.
There are about 300-400 Geranium species. They are mostly temperate.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It usually grows in shaded sites often near rocks. It often grows in mountain places. It needs well drained moist soils. It can tolerate part shade. Tasmania Herbarium.
Countries/locations it is found in
Antarctic Islands, Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Tasmania (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
The tuberous roots are pounded then cooked and eaten.
Edible parts
Tuber, roots, leaves, flowers
How it is grown
It can be grown from seeds, cuttings or division of the stems.
Its other names
Local names
Kawurn-kallumbarrat, Kullumkulkeeteech, Terrat