A poem by Andrew Bailey
Herb Robert
"Australian law is such that no-one can legally claim that the herb is a cancer cure. No scientific research has been done that shows it can cure any ailment."
Middle Path Awareness Sanctuary website
The great Dioscorides has already described it.
An irrepressible, joyous addition to any garden.
Will add beauty, health, healing wherever it goes.
Thousandweed. Staunchweed. Nosebleed.
It has this wide range of applications in the home
and clinic: astringent, antibiotic, antiviral,
styptic, tonic, diuretic, Foetid Cranesbill. Stinky Bob.
Note it only smells like foxes, the flavour
is not unpleasant. Old-man's-pepper. Digestive,
sedative, antioxidant. Dog's Toe. The dog
made a full recovery. Felonwort.
Soothing to bladder pains, neuralgia,
Fox Geranium. Yarroway. Cuckoo's Eye.
bruises, fistulas, and skin problems.
Crobh Dearg. The lumps are going.
The new x-rays showed not one sign.
Soldier's Woundwort. No insect pest bothers it.
Granny-Thread-The-Needle. Stinking Jenny. Her life
was now free of any sign of it, which Mary believes
was due, entirely, to taking herb robert daily.
Hop O'my Thumb. Puck. Robin-I'th-Hedge
The nodes started to recede and diminish in size,
Wren's Eye. Devil's Nettle. Dragonsblood.
till they were completely gone. Bloodwort.
Redshanks. Death-come-quickly. Don't. Saint Robert.
Neighbouring plants are healthier and more vigorous.
© Andrew Bailey, 2008
Geranium robertianum is an aggressive invasive plant that is displacing native herbaceous understory plants in previously pristine Western Washington forests. Not only is it exterminating native species because it can outcompete them, it is definitely NOT rendering "Neighbourning plants ... healthier and more vigorous". The plant is allelopathic. It poisons the soil it grows in so other native species cannot sprout. Like scot's broom, it is a plant that was introduced by misguided gardeners and is now degrading the natural landscape it is thriving in.
Do not propagate this plant.
That is great if Herb Robert is useful to people suffering from medical ills, however, get it from a source that will not allow the species to spread into wild areas.
Angela Van Camp
Posted by: Angela Van Camp | January 27, 2009 at 22:57