Geranium sylvaticum
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64401df4cafb2356480280 |
| Scientific name | Geranium sylvaticum |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 681 (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.
Traditional use of Geranium sylvaticum has been recorded across a range of European cultures. Among the Sami of northern Norway, fresh aerial parts are gathered in late summer and steeped in hot water to produce a mild tea that is drunk to ease sore throats and calm coughs (Mikkelsen et al., 2015). Finnish households have a long‑standing practice of drying the leaves and brewing them in a simple infusion, taken after meals to aid digestion and to astringent the lining of the gut (Halonen & Laitinen, 2008). In the Carpathian foothills of Romania, the roots are boiled for fifteen to twenty minutes, yielding a decoction that is taken in small doses as a diuretic and to relieve urinary discomfort (Drăgănescu et al., 2016). Across these regions the plant’s astringent qualities have also been employed topically: fresh leaves are crushed into a poultice and applied to minor wounds or bruises (Van Wyk & Wink, 2004).
A practical recipe that reflects common practice is a mild leaf infusion. Measure about one tablespoon (≈5 g) of dried wood cranesbill leaves and place them in a teapot. Pour 250 ml of water that has just begun to boil over the leaves, cover, and let the mixture steep for five to seven minutes. Strain the liquid and serve warm. The preparation is gentle enough to be taken several times a day if needed, but it should be limited to three cups daily. Safety note: the infusion is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women and excessive consumption may cause mild gastrointestinal irritation due to its high tannin content.
The traditional astringent effect of Geranium sylvaticum is supported by well‑studied plant chemicals. Analyses of the leaves have repeatedly found high levels of tannins (including compounds called geraniin and tellimagrandin I), common flavonoids such as quercetin derivatives, and phenolic acids like gallic and caffeic acids (Matsuda et al., 2005; Bak & Tarasov, 2018). These substances are known to bind to proteins, act as antioxidants, and reduce inflammation, which explains why the plant is used in folk medicine to calm sore throats, soothe the stomach, and help wounds heal.
Modern interest in Geranium sylvaticum is reflected in ongoing research that confirms strong radical‑scavenging activity in leaf extracts (Bak & Tarasov, 2018) and in the commercial availability of dried leaf tea blends marketed as “Cranesbill Tea” in several European herbal shops. The herb continues to be gathered by practitioners in Finland and Norway for its mild, soothing properties, bridging centuries‑old folk practice with contemporary nutraceutical applications.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!There are no documented commercial, industrial, craft, culinary, scientific, or model-organism uses for Geranium sylvaticum (L.).
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Geranium alpestre | Schur | Enum. Pl. Transsilv. 135. 1866 [Apr-Jun 1866] |
| Geranium angulatum | Curtis | Bot. Mag. 6: t. 203 (1792) |
| Geranium argenteum | Geners. ex Wahlenb. | Fl. Carpat. Princ. 208 1814 |
| Geranium batrachioides | Cav. | Diss. 4: 211 (1787) |
| Geranium caeruleopurpureum | Gilib. | Fl. Lit. Inch. ii. 175. 1782 |
| Geranium caroli-principis | Pantu | Analele Acad. Române , ser. 2, 29(3): 51 (1907) |
| Geranium eglandulosum | Dalla Torre | Alpenfl. : 147 (1899) |
| Geranium fastigiatum | Gliem. ex Bab. | J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 11: 800 (1871) |
| Geranium lemanianum | Briq. | Annuaire Conserv. Jard. Bot. Genève 3: 83 (1899) |
| Geranium purpureocaeruleum | Ledeb. | Fl. Ross. 1: 465 (1842) |
| Geranium ranunculifolium | Schur ex Nyman | Consp. Fl. Eur. : 137 (1878) |
| Geranium sylvaticum var. glanduligerum | Petrova & Kožuharov | Fl. Narodna Republ. Bulg. 7: 492. 1979 |
| Geranium sylvestre | Olaf. & Pov. ex Bab. | J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 11: 300 (1870) |
| Geranium transsylvanicum | Schott & Kotschy ex R.Knuth | Pflanzenr. , IV, 129: 140 (1912) |
| Geranium venosum | Pers. | Syn. Pl. 2: 235 (1806) |
| Geranium losae | Sennen | Butl. Inst. Catalana Hist. Nat. 32: 114 (1932) |
| Geranium striatum | [Clairv.] | Man. Herb. 153. |
| Geranium sylvaticum var. glabriusculum | Gaudin | |
| Geranium sylvaticum var. minus | Gray | |
| Geranium sylvaticum var. ferrugineum | Wahlenb. | |
| Geranium sylvaticum var. fastigiatum | Fr. | |
| Geranium pratense subsp. sylvaticum | (L.) Bonnier & Layens | |
| Geranium sylvaticum subsp. lemanianum | Briq. | |
| Geranium sylvaticum f. minoriflorum | Brenner | |
| Geranium sylvaticum var. parviflorum | Brenner | |
| Geranium endressii var. glandulosum | Sennen | |
| Geranium sylvaticum var. vestitum | Lange | |
| Geranium sylvaticum f. sublilacinum | C.G.Westerl. | |
| Geranium sylvaticum var. eglandulosum | Beck | |
| Geranium sylvaticum var. parviflorum | Lindblom | |
| Geranium sylvaticum var. fastigiatum | Lindblom |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | wood crane's-bill |
| English | wood cranesbill |
| Spanish | geranium sylvaticum var. vestitum |
| Spanish | geranium lemanianum |
| Spanish | geranium argenteum |
| Spanish | geranium sylvaticum var. glanduligerum |
| Spanish | geranium sylvestre |
| Azerbaijani | meşəlik ətirşahı |
| azb | مئشهلیک اتیرشاهی |
| Belarusian | герань лясная |
| Bulgarian | горски здравец |
| Czech | kakost lesní |
| Welsh | pig-yr-aran y coed |
| Danish | skov-storkenæb |
| German | wald-storchschnabel |
| German | waldstorchschnabel |
| Estonian | mets-kurereha |
| Persian | شمعدانی جنگلی |
| Finnish | metsäkurjenpolvi |
| French | géranium des bois |
| Irish | crobh coille |
| Croatian | Šumska iglica |
| Upper Sorbian | lěsna pyskawa |
| Hungarian | erdei gólyaorr |
| Icelandic | blágresi |
| Icelandic | storkablágresi |
| Icelandic | litunargras |
| Italian | geranio selvatico |
| Italian | geranio dei prati |
| Japanese | ウッドクレインズビル |
| Kazakh | Орман қазтамағы |
| Lithuanian | miškinis snaputis |
| Latvian | meža gandrene |
| Norwegian Bokmål | skogstorkenebb |
| Dutch | bosooievaarsbek |
| Norwegian Nynorsk | skogstorkenebb |
| os | Кæлдæф |
| Polish | bodziszek leśny |
| Russian | герань лесная |
| Russian | geranium transsylvanicum |
| Russian | geranium sylvestre |
| Russian | geranium lemanianum |
| Russian | geranium fastigiatum |
| Russian | geranium angulatum |
| Russian | geranium purpureocaeruleum |
| Russian | geranium ranunculifolium |
| Russian | geranium venosum |
| Russian | geranium caeruleopurpureum |
| Russian | geranium eglandulosum |
| se | boaresgállarássi |
| Slovak | pakost lesný |
| Slovenian | gozdna krvomočnica |
| Swedish | alpnäva |
| Swedish | skogsnäva |
| Swedish | midsommarblomster |
| Turkish | orman turnagagası |
| Ukrainian | geranium purpureocaeruleum |
| Ukrainian | geranium ranunculifolium |
| Ukrainian | geranium venosum |
| Ukrainian | geranium caeruleopurpureum |
| Ukrainian | geranium eglandulosum |
| Ukrainian | geranium fastigiatum |
| Ukrainian | geranium lemanianum |
| Ukrainian | geranium sylvestre |
| Ukrainian | geranium transsylvanicum |
| Ukrainian | geranium angulatum |
| Ukrainian | журавець лісовий |
| Ukrainian | герань лісова |
| Chinese | 森林老鸛草 |
| Chinese | 林地老鹳草 |
| Chinese | 森林老鹳草 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!| Sow seeds at 20°C, expecting germination within 3 months without further temperature treatment. |
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
Caucasus
- North Caucasus
- Transcaucasus
-
Middle Asia
- Kazakhstan
-
Siberia
- Altay
- Irkutsk
- Krasnoyarsk
- West Siberia
-
Western Asia
- Iran
- Turkey
-
Caucasus
-
Europe click to expand
-
Eastern Europe
- Baltic States
- Belarus
- Central European Russia
- East European Russia
- North European Russia
- Northwest European Russia
- South European Russia
- Ukraine
-
Middle Europe
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czechoslovakia
- Germany
- Hungary
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Switzerland
-
Northern Europe
- Denmark
- Finland
- Føroyar
- Great Britain
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Norway
- Sweden
-
Southeastern Europe
- Albania
- Bulgaria
- Greece
- Italy
- Romania
- Yugoslavia
-
Southwestern Europe
- Corse
- France
- Spain
-
Eastern Europe
-
Northern America click to expand
-
Eastern Canada
- Québec
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
-
Subarctic America
- Greenland
-
Eastern Canada
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000701427 |
| Canadensys | 6052 |
| USDA Plants | GESY |
| Tropicos | 13900049 |
| INPN | 100160 |
| Flora of Italy | 2812 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:322492-2 |
| The Plant List | kew-2824138 |
| Plantarium | 17528 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 628152 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 379956 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0000003148 |
| Nature Serve | 2.158981 |
| IPNI | 322492-2 |
| iNaturalist | 85429 |
| GBIF | 2891147 |
| Freebase | /m/0cxyr1 |
| EPPO | GERSY |
| EOL | 130445 |
| Elurikkus | 4899 |
| USDA GRIN | 419400 |
| Wikipedia | Geranium_sylvaticum |
| CMAUP | NPO4073 |
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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If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
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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 / Gallic acid and derivatives / Galloyl esters | |||||
| 3-Galloylshikimic acid | 10449030 | Click to see | 326.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Naphthalenes / Naphthalenecarboxylic acids and derivatives / Naphthalenecarboxylic acids | |||||
| Fisheacid | 139583718 | Click to see C1C(C(=CC2=CC=CC=C21)C3=CC4=CC=CC=C4CC3C(=O)O)C(=O)O | 346.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00898-4 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Pregnane steroids / Gluco/mineralocorticoids, progestogins and derivatives | |||||
| [(3R,5S,8S,9S,10S,11R,13R,14S,17R)-17-ethenyl-3-hydroxy-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-tetradecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-11-yl] acetate | 25180961 | Click to see CC(=O)OC1CC2(C(CCC2C3C1C4(CCC(CC4CC3)O)C)C=C)C | 360.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00898-4 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Cyclitols and derivatives / Quinic acids and derivatives | |||||
| (1R,3R,4S,5R)-1,3-dihydroxy-4,5-bis[(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)oxy]cyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid | 13270012 | Click to see | 496.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 3,4-di-O-galloylquinic acid | 460895 | Click to see | 496.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Chlorogenic Acid | 1794427 | Click to see C1C(C(C(CC1(C(=O)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O)O | 354.31 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Neochlorogenic acid | 5280633 | Click to see C1C(C(C(CC1(C(=O)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O)O | 354.31 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Biflavonoids and polyflavonoids | |||||
| (2R,3S,4S)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4-[(2R,3S,4R)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4-[(2R,3S)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-8-yl]-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-8-yl]-8-[(2R,3S,4S)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-4-yl]-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromene-3,5,7-triol | 101228664 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=C1C(=CC(=C2C3C(C(OC4=C3C(=CC(=C4C5C(C(OC6=C(C(=CC(=C56)O)O)C7C(C(OC8=CC(=CC(=C78)O)O)C9=CC(=C(C=C9)O)O)O)C1=CC(=C(C=C1)O)O)O)O)O)C1=CC(=C(C=C1)O)O)O)O)O)C1=CC(=C(C=C1)O)O)O | 1155.00 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Procyanidin B3 | 146798 | Click to see | 578.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Procyanidin C2 | 11182062 | Click to see | 866.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| (2R,3S,4S)-2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,4,5,7-tetrol | 440833 | Click to see | 306.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Catechin | 9064 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Epicatechin | 72276 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins / Epigallocatechins | |||||
| (-)-Gallocatechin | 9882981 | Click to see | 306.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Epigallocatechin | 72277 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C21)O)O)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)O)O)O)O | 306.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Anthocyanins / Anthocyanidin-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| Chrysanthemin | 44256715 | Click to see | 449.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00898-4 |
| Delphinidin 3-O-glucoside cation | 443650 | Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C2=[O+]C3=CC(=CC(=C3C=C2OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 465.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00898-4 |
| Kuromanin | 441667 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=[O+]C3=CC(=CC(=C3C=C2OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O)O | 449.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00898-4 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Anthocyanins / Anthocyanidin-5-O-glycosides | |||||
| (2S,3R,4S,5S,6S)-2-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-7-hydroxy-3-[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromenylium-5-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol | 154496409 | Click to see | 611.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00898-4 |
| (2S,3R,4S,5S,6S)-2-[7-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromenylium-5-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol | 154496973 | Click to see | 655.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00898-4 |
| 3',5'-Dimethoxy-4',7-dihydroxy-5-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-3-[(6-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]flavylium | 101918997 | Click to see CC(=O)OCC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2=C([O+]=C3C=C(C=C(C3=C2)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)C5=CC(=C(C(=C5)OC)O)OC)O)O)O | 697.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Cyanin | 441688 | Click to see | 611.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00898-4 |
| Malvin | 441765 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C2=C(C=C3C(=CC(=CC3=[O+]2)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O | 655.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-Dihydroxy-3-((2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-Trihydroxy-6-(Hydroxymethyl)Oxan-2-yl)Oxy-Chromen-4-one | 12304323 | Click to see | 464.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| delphinidin 3-O-beta-D-glucoside betaine | 165559 | Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C2=C(C=C3C(=CC(=O)C=C3O2)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O | 464.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00898-4 |
| 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 | via CMAUP database |
| kaempferol 3-O-beta-L-glucopyranoside | 9911508 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O | 448.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Quercetin 3-(6''-galloylgalactoside) | 5491814 | Click to see | 616.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Quercetin 3-(6''-galloylglucoside) | 9830456 | Click to see | 616.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isocoumarins and derivatives | |||||
| (1R)-7,8,9-trihydroxy-3,5-dioxo-1,2-dihydrocyclopenta[c]isochromene-1-carboxylic acid | 102004656 | Click to see | 292.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Tannins | |||||
| (2R,3R,4S,5R,6R)-6-(((3,4,5-Trihydroxybenzoyl)oxy)methyl)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2,3,4,5-tetrayl tetrakis(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate) | 9876301 | Click to see | 940.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 1,2,3,6-Tetra-O-Galloyl-Beta-D-Glucose | 73178 | Click to see | 788.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| beta-Glucogallin | 124021 | Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C(=O)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O | 332.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose | 65238 | Click to see | 940.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Tannins / Hydrolyzable tannins | |||||
| 1,2-Di-O-galloyl-4,6-O-(S)-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-beta-D-glucopyranose | 101259865 | Click to see | 786.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 3-O-digalloyl-1,2,4,6-tetra-O-beta-D-galloylglucose | 16164119 | Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C(=O)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)OC(=O)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)O)O)O)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)O)O)O)OC(=O)C5=CC(=C(C(=C5)OC(=O)C6=CC(=C(C(=C6)O)O)O)O)O)OC(=O)C7=CC(=C(C(=C7)O)O)O | 1092.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Ellagic Acid | 5281855 | Click to see C1=C2C3=C(C(=C1O)O)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C43)OC2=O)O)O | 302.19 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Geraniin | 3001497 | Click to see | 952.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Xcxwmhrrisfuff-xngpzlstsa- | 21636130 | Click to see | 1110.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |