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Geranium tuberosum

Common name:		Family:	Geraniaceae
Author:	L.	Botanical references:	89, 200
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	Europe - Mediterranean.
Habitat:	Cultivated ground, fields, vineyards and meadows[89].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	2	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	0

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	G. tiberosum[E]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Geranium [E],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	tuberosum = tuberous
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Geraniales. Geranium family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	Spain

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 0.3m. It is hardy to zone 8. It is in leaf from October to July, in flower in May. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Cultivated Beds.

Edible Uses

Root.

Edible tubers[177]. Up to 15mm wide[200].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any moderately fertile retentive soil in a sunny position[200]. Tolerates a wide range of soil types[200]. Established plants are drought resistant[190].
This species is not hardy in all parts of Britain, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10° c[200].
Plants come into growth in the autumn and die down in mid-summer[190].
Plants spread by means of underground tubers and can be invasive[190].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[233].
At least one named variety has been selected for its ornamental value[200]. 'Charlesii' has a low spreading habit[200].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame or as soon as it is ripe in the summer.
Division in late summer or early autumn. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Geranium tiberosum (a possible synonym).

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.

References for the family Geraniaceae.

To be included in the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[89] Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1
A very readable pocket flora that is well illustrated. Gives some information on plant uses.

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[190] Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982 ISBN 0460045512
A good list of drought resistant plants with details on how to grow them.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[233] Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Geranium+tuberosum
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Geranium+tuberosum

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