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Geraniaceae Family - "Wild Geranium, Alum Bloom, Alum Root, American Kimo Root, Chocolate Flower, Crane Bill, Crowfoot, Culver Root, Dove's Foot, Love Knot, Pigeon Foot, Red Robin, Rock Weed, Sailor's Knot, Shame Face"

Geranium comes from the Greek word geranos for "heron" or "crane", most likely because the seed pod looks a bird's beak. Maculatum is Latin for "spotted", referring to the brown and white spots on the leaves.

Found throughout the Tallgrass region in moist, open woodlands with rich soil. One and one half inch flowers from April to June. Color varies - from the occasional deep red to a very soft lavender; delicate veins are very visible in the petals. Leaves reach a deep purple and red in the autumn (see photo below).

Dried and powdered roots were used by the Chippewa to treat sore mouths, especially in children. A tea was made from the entire plant to treat diarrhea. The Meskwaki made a root tea to treat toothaches and neuralgia. A poultice made from the pounded roots was used to treat hemorrhoids. The also made a poultice from the base of the plant to aid in the healing of burns.

Early settlers in the area used the wild geranium as an astringent (it is still used for the same purpose today) and as a treatment for diarrhea, again, mostly for children. The wild geranium has a very high tannin content, enough so that it was used to tan hides.