The Useful Weed

A while back, I wrote about Geraniums, Cranesbills and Storksbills.   The whole gist of the post was to clarify just where what we know as Geraniums sit in the whole scheme of planthood.  It seems that they are not true Geraniums but are Pelargoniums.  It was one of those "learn something new" moments that even though I supposedly stashed in the back of the memory, it would never be seen again!  I admit that I have those moments a lot!  I gather a bit of information only to promptly lose it among all the other random tidbits of trivia that float in my brain.

Then, today, I find something that caused it all to flood back.  Cranesbill!  (Again, not to be confused with Storksbills better known as Geraniums!)  I was out weeding the garden when a conversation that I had with Mark came to mind.  He had made the comment once that he thought that most of what I call weeds probably had a use.  I call Cranesbills weeds!  Well, actually I do not call Cranesbills weeds as I did not know that the plant I was yanking from the ground was known by that name.  Now, I do!  I did a bit of research on the plant simply because I have always like the shape of the leaf.  Once I was completely satisfied with the identity of said plant, I checked to see if it was edible.  I am happy to report that Mark was right!  The "weed" is useful!  According to several sources, while the Cranesbill might not be edible because the tannins contained therein make it a bit astringent,  the plant is valuable as a medicinal herb.  It can help with everything from internal bleeding to sore throat!  There are a whole lot of things listed in between those two but I was fascinated that those two were linked.  Hmmm.

Anyway, now I am pondering whether to pull the Cranesbill from the herb garden or just let it grow.  It seems that something so useful should be growing next to the other herbs.  (Or...perhaps I just don't want to do a lot of weeding!)  So, there you have it...Cranesbill..not Storksbill, in this case..could possibly be a weed that we want to keep!