Geranium - Revision history

WikiWorks at 22:28, 10 September 2009

2009-09-10T22:28:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:28, 10 September 2009
Line 29:		Line 29:
	Geranium (Greek, crane; from the resemblance of the fruit to a crane's bill). Geraniaceae. Cbanesbill. Generally herbaceous plants, annual, biennial, and perennial. Widely cultivated in borders, and some species in the rockery, usually caulescent.		Geranium (Greek, crane; from the resemblance of the fruit to a crane's bill). Geraniaceae. Cbanesbill. Generally herbaceous plants, annual, biennial, and perennial. Widely cultivated in borders, and some species in the rockery, usually caulescent.

	Leaves simple, alternate or opposite and much- lobed, sometimes almost radical: fls. regular; sepals 5, imbricated, often 3-nerved and mucronate; petals 5, often hairy or ciliate; stamens 10, in 2 rows; anthers 10; seeds when ripened separated from the ovary and with its awn bent sinuously. The genus Erodium, its nearest ally, has but the inner row of stamens furnished with anthers and the awn of the seed is bent spirally. The geraniums of common speech are classed in the genus Pelargonium, having at the side of the pedicel a distinct narrow tube and zygomorphic fls. — The genus Geranium has over 250 species, found in the temperate zones particularly of the northern hemispheres, very few in the tropics. The roots of some, as G. maculatum, find use in medicine on account of their astringency. Thrive well in ordinary garden soil, and are propagated by seeds and divisions of roots. The best botanical account is that of R. Knuth in Engler's Das Pflanzenreich, hft. 53 (1912), and by Small and Hanks in N. Amer. Flora, Vol. 25, 1907, for the N. American species. A beautifully illustrated account of the genus is by Sweet (1820-30) in which special stress is laid on cultivation. There are 500 colored plates, and, where possible, these arc cited in the following account, thus, S. 197.=Sweet, Geraniaceae, plate 197.		Leaves simple, alternate or opposite and much- lobed, sometimes almost radical: fls. regular; sepals 5, imbricated, often 3-nerved and mucronate; petals 5, often hairy or ciliate; stamens 10, in 2 rows; anthers 10; seeds when ripened separated from the ovary and with its awn bent sinuously. The genus Erodium, its nearest ally, has but the inner row of stamens furnished with anthers and the awn of the seed is bent spirally. The geraniums of common speech are classed in the genus Pelargonium, having at the side of the pedicel a distinct narrow tube and zygomorphic fls. — The genus Geranium has over 250 species, found in the temperate zones particularly of the northern hemispheres, very few in the tropics. The roots of some, as G. maculatum, find use in medicine on account of their astringency. Thrive well in ordinary garden soil, and are propagated by seeds and divisions of roots. The best botanical account is that of R. Knuth in Engler's Das Pflanzenreich, hft. 53 (1912), and by Small and Hanks in N. Amer. Flora, Vol. 25, 1907, for the N. American species. A beautifully illustrated account of the genus is by Sweet (1820-30) in which special stress is laid on cultivation. There are 500 colored plates, and, where possible, these arc cited in the following account, thus, S. 197. equals Sweet, Geraniaceae, plate 197.

	Large masses of native species such as G. maculatum and G. robertianum can be effectively naturalized under bushes and trees. They spread very rapidly and in the case of G. robertianum will be profuse bloomers nearly all summer.		Large masses of native species such as G. maculatum and G. robertianum can be effectively naturalized under bushes and trees. They spread very rapidly and in the case of G. robertianum will be profuse bloomers nearly all summer.
Line 72:		Line 72:
	wailichianum, 23.		wailichianum, 23.

	The following are unknown as to botanical affinities or are insufficiently known in Amer. G. balkanum. Hurt. A hardy plant, with fragrant foliage: fls. on radical sts., 1 in. across, dark magenta. June.—G. heldreichii, Hort. Orange-colored fls.=(?).—G. lowii, Hort. 2-2 ½ ft.: fls. bright rose with violet center. Name unknown in botanical literature.—G. prostratum, Hort. Fls. purple. Advertised as "good rockery subject."=(?).—G. sylvaticum. Linn. About 2 ft. high, with a soft-haired, upright, round st.: lvs. 5-7-parted, lobes oblong, deeply toothed: fls. purple or violet. June, July. The common wood geranium of Eu. A white-fld. form G. sylvaticum Album, Hort., is known. Gn. 72, p. 178.—G. tuberosum, Linn. Tuberous-rooted, 9-15 in. high, with st. at base naked: lvs. many-lobed, linear and serrate: pedicels 1-2-fld., fls. large, violet. May. S. Eu.		The following are unknown as to botanical affinities or are insufficiently known in Amer. G. balkanum. Hurt. A hardy plant, with fragrant foliage: fls. on radical sts., 1 in. across, dark magenta. June.—G. heldreichii, Hort. Orange-colored fls.~(?).—G. lowii, Hort. 2-2 ½ ft.: fls. bright rose with violet center. Name unknown in botanical literature.—G. prostratum, Hort. Fls. purple. Advertised as "good rockery subject."~(?).—G. sylvaticum. Linn. About 2 ft. high, with a soft-haired, upright, round st.: lvs. 5-7-parted, lobes oblong, deeply toothed: fls. purple or violet. June, July. The common wood geranium of Eu. A white-fld. form G. sylvaticum Album, Hort., is known. Gn. 72, p. 178.—G. tuberosum, Linn. Tuberous-rooted, 9-15 in. high, with st. at base naked: lvs. many-lobed, linear and serrate: pedicels 1-2-fld., fls. large, violet. May. S. Eu.
			}}

	~~N. Taylor.~~
	}}
	{{Inc\|		{{Inc\|
	Pelargonium (stork, because the fruit is long and slender like a		Pelargonium (stork, because the fruit is long and slender like a

Christi at 09:59, 4 September 2009

2009-09-04T09:59:59Z

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 | familia = Geraniaceae
 | genus = Pelargonium
 }}
 {{Inc|

WikiWorks at 04:41, 26 June 2009

2009-06-26T04:41:30Z

Show changes

WikiWorks: Pelargonium moved to Geranium: common name

2009-01-03T18:04:43Z

Pelargonium moved to Geranium: common name

← Older revision	Revision as of 18:04, 3 January 2009
(No difference)

WikiWorks at 08:02, 11 May 2008

2008-05-11T08:02:55Z

New page

{{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: 
''[[Pelargonium graveolens]]'' 
''[[Pelargonium radens]]'' 
''[[Pelargonium scabrum]]'' 
''[[Pelargonium cotyledonis]]'' 
''[[Pelargonium triste]]'' 
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