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{{Taxobox
| name = Geraniums
| image = Pelargonium flower.JPG
| image_width = frameless
| image_caption = ''P. graveolens''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Geraniales]]
| familia = [[Geraniaceae]]
| genus = '''''Pelargonium'''''
| genus_authority = [[Charles Louis L'Héritier de Brutelle|L'Hér.]]
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision =
About 200:<br>
''[[Pelargonium graveolens]]''<br>
''[[Pelargonium radens]]''<br>
''[[Pelargonium scabrum]]''<br>
''[[Pelargonium cotyledonis]]''<br>
''[[Pelargonium triste]]''<br>
et al.
}}
'''''Pelargonium''''' is a [[genus]] of [[flowering plant]]s which includes about 200 [[species]] of [[perennial plant|perennial]], [[succulent plant|succulent]], and [[shrub]] [[plant]]s, commonly known as '''geraniums'''. Confusingly, ''Geranium'' is the correct botanical name of the separate genus which contains the related [[Cranesbill]]s. Both genera are in the Family [[Geraniaceae]]. [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] originally included all the species in one genus, ''Geranium'', but they were later separated into two genera by [[Charles Louis L'Héritier de Brutelle|Charles L’Héritier]] in [[1789]]. Gardeners sometimes refer to the members of Genus ''Pelargonium'' as "pelargoniums" in order to avoid the confusion, but the older common name "geranium" is still in regular use.
==History and use==
The first species of ''Pelargonium'' known to be cultivated was ''Pelargonium triste'', a native of [[South Africa]]. It was probably brought to the [[botanical garden]] in [[Leiden]] before [[1600]] on ships which stopped at the [[Cape of Good Hope]]. In [[1631]], the English gardener, [[John Tradescant the elder]], bought seeds from [[Rene Morin]] in [[Paris]] and introduced the plant to [[England]]. The name ''Pelargonium'' was introduced by [[Johannes Burman]] in [[1738]], from Greek πελαργός pelargos = "[[stork]]", because part of the flower looked like a stork's beak.
Other than grown for their beauty, species of Pelargonium such as ''[[Pelargonium graveolens|P. graveolens]]'' are important in the [[perfume]] industry and are cultivated and [[distillation|distilled]] for its scent. Although scented Pelargonium exist which have smells of [[citrus]], [[Mentha|mint]], or various [[fruits]], the varieties with [[rose]] scents are most commercially important. Pelargonium distillates and [[Absolute (substance)|absolutes]], commonly known as "scented geranium oil" are sometimes used to supplement or adulterate expensive [[rose oil]]s.
''Pelargonium'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Angle Shades]].
''Pelargoniums '' are believed to deter mosquitoes.
Garden geranium (''Pelargonium x hortorum''; [[syn.]] ''Pelargonium zonale'') is one of the most common ornamental potted-plants, with over 200 varieties.
In 1988 the flower was described and illustrated in a comprehensive 3-volume work ''Pelargoniums of Southern Africa'' by [[Ellaphie Ward-Hilhorst]] with van der Walt and Vorster.
==Cultivars==
Species of ''Pelargonium'' are indigenous to Southern Africa and are drought and heat tolerant, and can tolerate only minor frosts. Pelargoniums are extremely popular [[garden]] plants, grown as annuals in temperate climates, and thousands of ornamental [[cultivar]]s have been developed from about 20 of the species.
*'''Zonal''' varieties, also known as ''P.'' ×''hortorum'', are mainly derived from ''P. zonale'' and ''P. inquinans''.
*'''Ivy-leaved''' varieties are mainly derived from ''P. peltatum''.
*'''Regal''' varieties, also known as French geraniums or ''P.'' × ''domesticum'' are mainly derived from ''P. cucullatum'' and ''P. grandiflorum''.
*'''Scented-leaf''' varieties are derived from a great number of species, amongst others ''P. graveolens''.
==Structural variations==
Pelargonium [[Leaf|leaves]] are usually alternate, and [[leaf shape|palmately]] lobed or [[pinnate]], often on long stalks, and sometimes with light or dark patterns.
The erect stems bear five-petaled [[flower]]s in [[umbel]]-like clusters called [[pseudoumbel]]s. The shapes of the flowers have been bred to a variety ranging star-shaped to funnel-shaped, and colors include white, pink, red, orange-red, fuchsia to deep purple.
In early 2006 a long-awaited yellow-flowered variety was launched. Called the Guernsey Flair, it was supplied exclusively to the television shopping channel QVC in the UK, and all available plants were sold within a few minutes. [http://www.begs.org.uk/guernsey.html See photo of yellow geranium.] The flower has a much yellower hue than the cream-colored varieties which some developers had called yellow previously.
Horticultural pelargoniums (as opposed to botanical, the wild 'species') fall into six major groups, with zonals subdivided further:
* Angel
* Ivy-leaved = hanging
* Regal (or Royal) = French
* Shrubby-leaved
* Unique
* Zonal - erect and bushy
** Cactus-flowered
** Deacon (mostly dwarfs, cf. infra)
** Double-flowered
** Fancy-leaved
** Formosum hybrid
** Rosebud
** Tulip-flowered
** Single-flowered
** Stellar
** Straight Zonals
** It is also usual to classify small Zonals alternatively by size or odorous excellence :
*** Dwarfs (small)
*** Miniatures (even smaller)
*** Parfum-leaved
==Image gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Pelargonium graveolens 2.jpg| ''P. graveolum''
Image:Geranium close.jpg| ''P. x domesticum''
Image:Geranium close2.JPG | ''"Martha Washington"''
Image:Pelargonium sp3.JPG|native Pelargonium in South Africa Namaqualand
Image:Pelargonium hybride Stellar.JPG|Pelargonium Stellar, a cultivar
Image:pelargon.jpg|Garden geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum)
Image:Fair Ellen.jpg|Fair Ellen
</gallery>
== References and external links ==
* [[Maria Lis-Balchin]], ed., ''Geranium and Pelargonium: History of Nomenclature, Usage and Cultivation''. ([[Taylor and Francis]], 2002) ISBN 0-415-28487-2
* [http://www.fuchsia.be] - explanations in the on-line catalog of a Belgian breeder with over 1000 varieties of Pelargonium, most also illustrated, dozens added each year.
* [http://razor.arnes.si/~mstrli/pp.html] - ''The Pelargonium Page'': descriptions of botanical species with plant and habitat photos
| name = Geraniums
| image = Pelargonium flower.JPG
| image_width = frameless
| image_caption = ''P. graveolens''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Geraniales]]
| familia = [[Geraniaceae]]
| genus = '''''Pelargonium'''''
| genus_authority = [[Charles Louis L'Héritier de Brutelle|L'Hér.]]
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision =
About 200:<br>
''[[Pelargonium graveolens]]''<br>
''[[Pelargonium radens]]''<br>
''[[Pelargonium scabrum]]''<br>
''[[Pelargonium cotyledonis]]''<br>
''[[Pelargonium triste]]''<br>
et al.
}}
'''''Pelargonium''''' is a [[genus]] of [[flowering plant]]s which includes about 200 [[species]] of [[perennial plant|perennial]], [[succulent plant|succulent]], and [[shrub]] [[plant]]s, commonly known as '''geraniums'''. Confusingly, ''Geranium'' is the correct botanical name of the separate genus which contains the related [[Cranesbill]]s. Both genera are in the Family [[Geraniaceae]]. [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] originally included all the species in one genus, ''Geranium'', but they were later separated into two genera by [[Charles Louis L'Héritier de Brutelle|Charles L’Héritier]] in [[1789]]. Gardeners sometimes refer to the members of Genus ''Pelargonium'' as "pelargoniums" in order to avoid the confusion, but the older common name "geranium" is still in regular use.
==History and use==
The first species of ''Pelargonium'' known to be cultivated was ''Pelargonium triste'', a native of [[South Africa]]. It was probably brought to the [[botanical garden]] in [[Leiden]] before [[1600]] on ships which stopped at the [[Cape of Good Hope]]. In [[1631]], the English gardener, [[John Tradescant the elder]], bought seeds from [[Rene Morin]] in [[Paris]] and introduced the plant to [[England]]. The name ''Pelargonium'' was introduced by [[Johannes Burman]] in [[1738]], from Greek πελαργός pelargos = "[[stork]]", because part of the flower looked like a stork's beak.
Other than grown for their beauty, species of Pelargonium such as ''[[Pelargonium graveolens|P. graveolens]]'' are important in the [[perfume]] industry and are cultivated and [[distillation|distilled]] for its scent. Although scented Pelargonium exist which have smells of [[citrus]], [[Mentha|mint]], or various [[fruits]], the varieties with [[rose]] scents are most commercially important. Pelargonium distillates and [[Absolute (substance)|absolutes]], commonly known as "scented geranium oil" are sometimes used to supplement or adulterate expensive [[rose oil]]s.
''Pelargonium'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Angle Shades]].
''Pelargoniums '' are believed to deter mosquitoes.
Garden geranium (''Pelargonium x hortorum''; [[syn.]] ''Pelargonium zonale'') is one of the most common ornamental potted-plants, with over 200 varieties.
In 1988 the flower was described and illustrated in a comprehensive 3-volume work ''Pelargoniums of Southern Africa'' by [[Ellaphie Ward-Hilhorst]] with van der Walt and Vorster.
==Cultivars==
Species of ''Pelargonium'' are indigenous to Southern Africa and are drought and heat tolerant, and can tolerate only minor frosts. Pelargoniums are extremely popular [[garden]] plants, grown as annuals in temperate climates, and thousands of ornamental [[cultivar]]s have been developed from about 20 of the species.
*'''Zonal''' varieties, also known as ''P.'' ×''hortorum'', are mainly derived from ''P. zonale'' and ''P. inquinans''.
*'''Ivy-leaved''' varieties are mainly derived from ''P. peltatum''.
*'''Regal''' varieties, also known as French geraniums or ''P.'' × ''domesticum'' are mainly derived from ''P. cucullatum'' and ''P. grandiflorum''.
*'''Scented-leaf''' varieties are derived from a great number of species, amongst others ''P. graveolens''.
==Structural variations==
Pelargonium [[Leaf|leaves]] are usually alternate, and [[leaf shape|palmately]] lobed or [[pinnate]], often on long stalks, and sometimes with light or dark patterns.
The erect stems bear five-petaled [[flower]]s in [[umbel]]-like clusters called [[pseudoumbel]]s. The shapes of the flowers have been bred to a variety ranging star-shaped to funnel-shaped, and colors include white, pink, red, orange-red, fuchsia to deep purple.
In early 2006 a long-awaited yellow-flowered variety was launched. Called the Guernsey Flair, it was supplied exclusively to the television shopping channel QVC in the UK, and all available plants were sold within a few minutes. [http://www.begs.org.uk/guernsey.html See photo of yellow geranium.] The flower has a much yellower hue than the cream-colored varieties which some developers had called yellow previously.
Horticultural pelargoniums (as opposed to botanical, the wild 'species') fall into six major groups, with zonals subdivided further:
* Angel
* Ivy-leaved = hanging
* Regal (or Royal) = French
* Shrubby-leaved
* Unique
* Zonal - erect and bushy
** Cactus-flowered
** Deacon (mostly dwarfs, cf. infra)
** Double-flowered
** Fancy-leaved
** Formosum hybrid
** Rosebud
** Tulip-flowered
** Single-flowered
** Stellar
** Straight Zonals
** It is also usual to classify small Zonals alternatively by size or odorous excellence :
*** Dwarfs (small)
*** Miniatures (even smaller)
*** Parfum-leaved
==Image gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Pelargonium graveolens 2.jpg| ''P. graveolum''
Image:Geranium close.jpg| ''P. x domesticum''
Image:Geranium close2.JPG | ''"Martha Washington"''
Image:Pelargonium sp3.JPG|native Pelargonium in South Africa Namaqualand
Image:Pelargonium hybride Stellar.JPG|Pelargonium Stellar, a cultivar
Image:pelargon.jpg|Garden geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum)
Image:Fair Ellen.jpg|Fair Ellen
</gallery>
== References and external links ==
* [[Maria Lis-Balchin]], ed., ''Geranium and Pelargonium: History of Nomenclature, Usage and Cultivation''. ([[Taylor and Francis]], 2002) ISBN 0-415-28487-2
* [http://www.fuchsia.be] - explanations in the on-line catalog of a Belgian breeder with over 1000 varieties of Pelargonium, most also illustrated, dozens added each year.
* [http://razor.arnes.si/~mstrli/pp.html] - ''The Pelargonium Page'': descriptions of botanical species with plant and habitat photos
