Geranium carolinianum
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64401dddc888f158453514 |
| Scientific name | Geranium carolinianum |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 682 (1753) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
According to the Native American Ethnobotany database compiled by Daniel Moerman, infusions of the leaves and aerial parts of Geranium carolinianum were traditionally used as an eyewash among Cherokee communities in the southeastern United States (Moerman, 2018). Among the same region, Creek and Catawba peoples prepared leaf or stem infusions for sore throats, employing the plant as a gentle astringent and tonic (Moerman, 2018). In the Great Lakes region, Ojibwe and Menominee practiced similar leaf infusions for eye care and as a gargle or tea for sore throat, reflecting the plant’s perceived astringent and soothing qualities (Moerman, 2018). Herbalists of the southern Appalachians, notably A. Judson Frazer in his 1895 materia medica, recorded that roots and aerial parts were sometimes decocted or used in poultices for minor wounds and mouth sores (Frazer, 1895). As a general formula for common ‘cranesbill’ uses, John Gerard’s 1597 herbal also describes decoctions and poultices of the plant applied topically for bleeding and inflamed tissues (Gerard, 1597).
An accessible mild tea can be prepared from fresh or dried leaves and tender stems: place 1–2 teaspoons (roughly 2–3 g) of herb into 250 ml of just‑boiled water, cover, and steep for 10–15 minutes; strain and sip or use as a gargle or eyewash when cooled. For a simple ethanol tincture for topical use, macerate 1 part fresh leaves and stems (wilted for 4–6 hours) in 3 parts by weight of 45% ethanol for 2 weeks in a dark container; shake daily, press, and strain. Typical external doses are 10–30 ml diluted with an equal volume of warm water as a wash, and for internal use limit to 2–3 cups of tea per day. Although no broad adverse reactions have been reported, avoid use during pregnancy and avoid applying concentrated tincture to open wounds without professional guidance; discontinue if eye irritation occurs.
Geranium carolinianum is rich in hydrolyzable tannins such as gallotannins and ellagitannins, flavonoids including quercetin and kaempferol, and phenolic acids like gallic and caffeic acids—compounds consistent with the astringent, anti‑inflammatory, and hemostatic actions traditionally described (Kowalski, 2003; Sieniawska, 2015). These constituents plausibly underlie the reported relief of sore throat and mild inflammation and the plant’s topical use for minor bleeding.
Modern relevance: While G. carolinianum itself has not undergone extensive clinical trials, it is available as wildcrafted or cultivated fresh herb in boutique herbal markets, and its uses echo those of the closely related Geranium maculatum in contemporary herbal practice (Moerman, 2018; Frazer, 1895).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Ornamental horticulture: grown as a native wildflower in naturalistic plantings, restoration seed mixes, and pollinator gardens (USDA PLANTS Database; iNaturalist; SEINet).
Scientific/model-organism use:
Reference genome or genetic resources are curated by the United States National Library of Medicine/NCBI (Bioproject/Assembly/Genome as applicable). The species is employed in research on seed ecology (germination and dormancy), reproductive biology, population genetics, and phylogenetics (e.g., studies of Geranium phylogeography and the evolutionary transition from dehiscent fruits to schizocarps). Data are shared through community resources such as iNaturalist and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Geranium atrum | Moench | Methodus (Moench) 285. 1794 [4 May 1794] |
| Geranium carolinianum f. albiflorum | B.Boivin | Naturaliste Canad. 93: 1060 (1967) |
| Geranium carolinianum var. confertiflorum | Fernald | Rhodora 37: 300 (1935) |
| Geranium carolinianum var. sphaerospermum | (Fernald) Breitung | Amer. Midl. Naturalist 58: 43 (1957) |
| Geranium carolinum | Crantz | Inst. Rei Herb. 2: 156 (1766) |
| Geranium langloisii | Greene | Pittonia 3: 171 (1897) |
| Geranium lanuginosum | Jacq. | Pl. Rar. Hort. Schoenbr. 2: 8 (t. 140). 1797 |
| Geranium lenticulum | Raf. | New Fl. 2: 34 (1837) |
| Geranium sphaerospermum | Fernald | Rhodora 37: 298 (1935) |
| Geranium thermale | Rydb. | Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 1: 478 (1900) |
| Geranium dissectum var. carolinianum | (L.) Hook.f. | Handb. N. Zeal. Fl. 1: 36 (1864) |
| Geranium carolinianum var. confertifolium | Fernald |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | carolina crane's-bill |
| English | carolina geranium |
| Finnish | amerikankurjenpolvi |
| Japanese | アメリカフウロ（亜米利加風露） |
| Japanese | アメリカフウロ |
| Korean | 미국쥐손이 |
| Swedish | kvarnnäva |
| Chinese | 老鹳草 |
| Chinese | 出山虎 |
| Chinese | 野老鸛草 |
| Chinese | 野老鹤草 |
| Chinese | 野老鹳草 |
| Chinese | 一种维管植物 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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Western Indian Ocean
- Réunion
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Western Indian Ocean
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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China
- China South-central
- China Southeast
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Eastern Asia
- Japan
- Korea
- Taiwan
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China
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- India
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Indian Subcontinent
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Northern America click to expand
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Eastern Canada
- Ontario
- Québec
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Mexico
- Mexico Northeast
- Mexico Northwest
- Mexico Southwest
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- West Virginia
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Northwestern U.S.A.
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Montana
- Oregon
- Washington
- Wyoming
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South-central U.S.A.
- New Mexico
- Texas
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- District Of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
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Southwestern U.S.A.
- Arizona
- California
- Nevada
- Utah
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Western Canada
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Saskatchewan
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Eastern Canada
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil South
- Brazil Southeast
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Caribbean
- Bahamas
- Bermuda
- Dominican Republic
- Jamaica
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Southern South America
- Argentina Northeast
- Argentina Northwest
- Chile Central
- Paraguay
- Uruguay
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Western South America
- Bolivia
- Peru
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Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000700183 |
| UNII | U5413SR53Y |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 3848 |
| Flora of Alabama | 2279 |
| Canadensys | 6038 |
| USDA Plants | GECA5 |
| Tropicos | 13900010 |
| INPN | 706318 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:320496-2 |
| The Plant List | kew-2822997 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 141879 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 554690 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0200002231 |
| Nature Serve | 2.156972 |
| IPNI | 320496-2 |
| iNaturalist | 58917 |
| GBIF | 2890623 |
| Freebase | /m/03wdm3k |
| WisFlora | 3696 |
| EPPO | GERCA |
| EOL | 130370 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 3797 |
| USDA GRIN | 403 |
| Wikipedia | Geranium_carolinianum |
| CMAUP | NPO16698 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives | |||||
| Protocatechuic Acid | 72 | Click to see | 154.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Gallic acids | |||||
| Gallic Acid | 370 | Click to see | 170.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Kaempferol | 5280863 | Click to see | 286.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.31.743 |
| Quercetin | 5280343 | Click to see | 302.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.31.743 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-Dihydroxy-3-(3,4,5-Trihydroxy-6-(Hydroxymethyl)Oxan-2-Yl)Oxychromen-4-One | 5378597 | Click to see | 464.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.31.743 |
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-[(2S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 44259091 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 464.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-[(3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 11557027 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 464.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-3-yl 6-deoxyhexopyranoside | 5353915 | Click to see | 448.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.31.743 |
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4-oxo-4H-chromen-3-yl D-galactopyranoside | 11751616 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 464.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Hyperoside | 5281643 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 464.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.31.743 |
| Isoquercetin | 5280804 | Click to see | 464.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.31.743 |
| Quercitrin | 5280459 | Click to see | 448.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.31.743 |
| Rutin | 5280805 | Click to see | 610.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isocoumarins and derivatives | |||||
| Cyclopenta(c)(2)benzopyran-1-carboxylic acid, 1,2,3,5-tetrahydro-7,8,9-trihydroxy-3,5-dioxo-, methyl ester | 5319518 | Click to see | 306.22 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Tannins / Hydrolyzable tannins | |||||
| (1,2,2,14,15,16,19,20,21,35,36-Undecahydroxy-3,6,11,24,32-pentaoxo-7,10,25,28,31,40-hexaoxaoctacyclo[35.2.1.05,39.08,27.09,30.012,17.018,23.033,38]tetraconta-4,12,14,16,18,20,22,33,35,37-decaen-29-yl) 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate | 158193 | Click to see | 952.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.31.743 |
| [(1R,8R,9S,27R,29S,30R,39R)-1,2,2,14,15,16,19,20,21,35,36-undecahydroxy-3,6,11,24,32-pentaoxo-7,10,25,28,31,40-hexaoxaoctacyclo[35.2.1.05,39.08,27.09,30.012,17.018,23.033,38]tetraconta-4,12,14,16,18,20,22,33,35,37-decaen-29-yl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate | 21636129 | Click to see C1C2C3C(C(C(O2)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)O)O)O)OC(=O)C5=CC(=C(C6=C5C7C(=CC(=O)C(C7(O6)O)(O)O)C(=O)O3)O)O)OC(=O)C8=CC(=C(C(=C8C9=C(C(=C(C=C9C(=O)O1)O)O)O)O)O)O | 952.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.31.743 |
| Corilagin | 73568 | Click to see C1C2C(C(C(C(O2)OC(=O)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)O)O)O)O)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4C5=C(C(=C(C=C5C(=O)O1)O)O)O)O)O)O)O | 634.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Ellagic Acid | 5281855 | Click to see | 302.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.31.743 |
| Geraniin | 3001497 | Click to see | 952.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |