Geranium macrorrhizum

Geranium macrorrhizum

''Geranium macrorrhizum'' is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant species in the genus ''Geranium''. Its common names include bigroot geranium, Bulgarian geranium, zdravetz and rock crane's-bill.
Red like in rubies, good for cures [HDR] Gaze into my facets
Gleaming in the light
Reflecting to the world
My Goodness at its height

(part of a poem by Michele Young)

This 20-50cm plant originates from high altitude mountains like the Alps and the Balkan mountain ranges and normally flower on rocky grounds rich in chalk. The flowers are used by pharmaceuticals to produce medicinal aromatic essential oil called Zdravec oil (of Bulgarian invention).  
 These reside in our garden, which has lucious black earth full of natural nutrients and lots of water. Quite different, but these beautiful flowers like it in our garden. As do we. 

 Geotagged,Geranium macrorrhizum,HDR,The Netherlands

Uses

''Geranium macrorrhizum'' is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant for gardens. The perennial is used as a flowering groundcover, with named cultivars selected for flower colors from white through pink to magenta. Varieties include 'Ingwersen's Variety', named after the Danish/German Walter Ingwersen, who wrote ''The Genus Geranium'' , with soft pale lavender flowers.


The plant is used for medical purposes in the traditional herbal medicine since it possesses high antimicrobial

properties. Essential oil is prepared from it so it is also used in aromatherapy. In Bulgarian the plant is called здравец and an oil is extracted from this plant, in Bulgaria. The name is said to mean 'bringer of health'. In addition to essential oil, it contains flavonoids, sesquiterpenes, phenolic acids, pigments, vitamins, and mineral salts. A major component of essential oil is the sesquiterpene ketone germacrone.

References:

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Status: Unknown
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomPlantae
DivisionAngiosperms
ClassEudicots
OrderGeraniales
FamilyGeraniaceae
GenusGeranium
Species