Wood Cranesbill

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Geranium sylvaticum

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Geraniales
Family: Geraniaceae
Genus: Geranium
Species: G. sylvaticum
Binomial name
Geranium sylvaticum
L.

[edit] Description

Geranium sylvaticum (Wood Cranesbill or Woodland Geranium) is a species of the genus Geranium.

Depending on soil conditions, the flowers range from a mauve color to sky blue.[1]

[edit] Uses and Traditions

It is the county flower of Sheffield in the United Kingdom.

The flowers of G. sylvaticum yield a blue-gray dye that was used in ancient Europe to dye war cloaks, believing it would protect them in battle. For this reason G. sylvaticum was called Odin's Grace [2].

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Marjorie Blamey and Richard Fitter, Collins Handguide to Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe, Wiliam Collins Sons & Co. Ltd., London, 1979.
  2. ^ Hilderic Friend, Flower Lore, Para Research, Inc., Rockport, Massachusetts 1981.
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