The Herb-Robert is common everywhere in early summer. It is a cousin of
the Dove's-foot Crane's-bill, but differs from it in some points which
you must notice. The stems are much stronger and can stand upright.
The flowers are longer than those of the Dove's-foot Crane's-bill, and
the five petals have no notch in the broad end, and no hairs at the
narrow end. These petals are pale pink, streaked with white or purple,
and they grow in pairs at the end of short stalks which branch near each
other from the main stem.
The sepals are of two kinds. You have three outer sepals which are green
and hairy, and inside these there are two others which are very thin and
almost colourless.
The seeds of the Herb-Robert are scattered in the same way as those of
the Dove's-foot Crane's-bill.
You will always know this plant by its beautiful red leaves. They are
shaped like a hand, and are cut up into many tiny fingers. At first they
are green, but very soon they become a beautiful red colour. So do the
stalks.
The whole plant has a strong and rather unpleasant odour.