Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands
Geranium
Dahįįtííhídą́ą́’tsó
Geranium may be found in grasslands and in wooded areas, growing to a height of four feet. While some geranium species are introduced, there are many natives as well. Species found in Utah and New Mexico include Fremont geranium (Geranium caespitosum), sticky geranium (Geranium viscosissimum), Richardson's geranium (Geranium richardsonii), and sticky purple geranium (Geranium viscosissimum).
Geraniums provide good livestock forage, particularly for sheep. Deer also graze the plants.
Flowers have five parts (petals, stamens) and display a range of colors in the lavender-pink spectrum. The leaves are palmately lobed and hairy. Stems are also hairy.
The sticky geranium has edible flowers and leaves. The Cheyenne used the leaves of Richardson's geranium medicinally and made a tea out of the roots.
Copyright 2018 New Mexico State University. Individual photographers retain all rights to their images. Partially funded by the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (westernsare.org; 435.797.2257), project EW15-023. Programs and projects supported by Western SARE are equally open to all people. NMSU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action educator and employer..
NMSU does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, retaliation, serious medical condition, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, spousal affiliation or protected veteran status in its programs and activities as required by equal opportunity/affirmative action regulations and laws and university policy and rules. For more information please read the NMSU Notice of Non-discrimination (opens in new window).