Dove's-foot crane's-bill

Dove’s-foot crane’s-bill (Geranium molle) is a common wildflower plant in lowland Great Britain, being found in fields, wasteland and sandy areas.

This variety of crane’s-bill is noticeable for the soft hairy down on its roundish lobed leaves (the botanical name “molle” is Latin for soft). The semi-erect stems, which branch from the base of the plant, grow up to 16 inches (40 centimetres) high.

The plant flowers from April to September. The pointed sepals are covered with dense hair and the lilac/purple flowers have five notched petals. Although the flowers are attractive to insects, the stamens (male) and stigmas (female) are in close contact so the flowers are actually self-pollinating.

The name crane’s-bill comes from the shape of the fruit, which has been thought to resemble the bill of the crane – a stork-like bird. When ripe, the fruit ejects a seed which is thrown some distance from the plant.

The name dove’s-foot comes from the shape of the leaf, which some people have seen as resembling the shape of a dove’s foot, although this takes a considerable leap of imagination!

As with many common wild flowers, dove’s-foot crane’s-bill has been used in the past by herbalists to treat certain ailments. One of the more bizarre applications was that advocated by John Gerard in the 16^th century. He prescribed a cure for ruptures in which a powder was made from dried plants to which was added a powder made by grinding up nine dried slugs! The combined powder was then stirred into claret and drunk. Were any ruptures healed as a result? Or did the excuse to drink copious amounts of claret – albeit strangely flavoured - simply make sufferers forget that they were in discomfort?

© John Welford