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geranium

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}

{{About|the botanical genus called Geranium|the summer bedding "geranium"|Pelargonium|other uses}}

{{Distinguish|germanium}}

{{automatic taxobox

|image = Geranium February 2008-1.jpg

|image_caption = Geranium dissectum

|taxon = Geranium

|authority = L.

|subdivision_ranks = Species

|subdivision = See list.

}}

Geranium is a genus of 422 species of annual, biennial, and perennial plants that are commonly known as geraniums or cranesbills. They are found throughout the temperate regions of the world and the mountains of the tropics, with the greatest diversity in the eastern part of the Mediterranean region.{{cite book |last1=Allaby |first1=Michael |title=The Dictionary of Science for Gardeners: 6000 Scientific Terms Explored and Explained |date=26 August 2015 |publisher=Timber Press |isbn=978-1-60469-483-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LrrDCQAAQBAJ&dq=Geranium+is+a+genus+of+422+species&pg=PA225 |access-date=5 April 2024 |language=en}}

The palmately cleft leaves are broadly circular in form. The flowers have five petals and are coloured white, pink, purple, or blue, often with distinctive veining. Geraniums will grow in any soil as long as it is not waterlogged.{{Cite book |last=Tibballs |first=Geoff |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nWK7DAAAQBAJ&dq=Geraniums+will+grow+in+any+soil+as+long+as+it+is+not+waterlogged&pg=PT31 |title=100 Plants That Won't Die in Your Garden |date=2017-03-09 |publisher=Little, Brown Book Group |isbn=978-1-4721-3800-2 |language=en}} Propagation is by semiripe cuttings in summer, by seed, or by division in autumn or spring.{{Cite book |last=Brickell |first=Christopher |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d-BgPoWCQowC&dq=Geraniums+propagation+semiripe+cuttings+in+summer&pg=PA584 |title=American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers |date=2011-08-15 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-7566-7508-0 |language=en}}

Geraniums are eaten by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including brown-tail, ghost moth, and mouse moth. At least several species of Geranium are gynodioecious.Hessing, M.B. 1989. Variation in self-fertility and floral characters of Geranium caespitosum (Geraniaceae) along an elevational gradient. Plant Systematics and Evolution 166:225-241.Van Etten and Chang 2014. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4649693/ Frequency-dependent pollinator discrimination acts against female plants in the gynodioecious Geranium maculatum] Annals of Botany 114:1769–1778{{Cite journal | doi=10.1016/j.flora.2016.11.007| title=Prolonged stigma and flower lifespan in females of the gynodioecious plant Geranium sylvaticum| journal=Flora| volume=226| pages=72–81| year=2017| last1=Elzinga| first1=Jelmer A.| last2=Varga| first2=Sandra| bibcode=2017FMDFE.226...72E| s2cid=85558947| url=https://jyx.jyu.fi/bitstream/123456789/52505/1/elzingavarga1s2.0s0367253016301694main.pdf}} The species Geranium viscosissimum (sticky geranium) is considered to be protocarnivorous.{{Cite journal |last=Spomer |first=George G. |date=1999 |title=Evidence of Protocarnivorous Capabilities in Geranium viscosissimum and Potentilla arguta and Other Sticky Plants |url=http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/314109 |journal=International Journal of Plant Sciences |language=en |volume=160 |issue=1 |pages=98–101 |doi=10.1086/314109 |issn=1058-5893|url-access=subscription }}

Name

Image:Floral diagram Geranium.jpg

The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek {{lang|grc|γέρανος}} (géranos) 'crane'. The English name 'cranesbill' derives from the resemblance of the fruit capsule of some of the species to a crane's head and bill. The ovary portion forms the head and the prolonged stigma creates the appearance of a beak.{{Cite book|last=Taylor|first=Ronald J.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/25708726|title=Sagebrush Country: A Wildflower Sanctuary|publisher=Mountain Press Pub. Co|year=1994|isbn=0-87842-280-3|edition=rev.|location=Missoula, MT|pages=62|language=en|oclc=25708726|orig-year=1992}}{{cite web |title=Geranium homeanum |url=https://resources.austplants.com.au/plant/geranium-homeanumrainforest-cranes-bill/ |website=Australian Plants Society |access-date=5 April 2024 |language=en-AU |date=17 January 2024}}

Description

The flowers are typically five-petaled and white to purple. The leaves are palmate divided into narrow, pointed segments.

The fruit capsule consists of five cells joined to a column produced from the centre of the flower. The cells form lobes which eventually separate, each containing one seed. When the fruit is ripe, the beak-like stigma springs open and casts the ovoid, streamlined seeds some distance, dispersing the seeds.{{Cite journal |last1=Stamp |first1=Nancy E. |last2=Lucas |first2=Jeffrey R. |date=1983 |title=Ecological Correlates of Explosive Seed Dispersal |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4217097 |journal=Oecologia |volume=59 |issue=2/3 |pages=272–278 |doi=10.1007/BF00378848 |jstor=4217097 |pmid=28310244 |bibcode=1983Oecol..59..272S |issn=0029-8549|url-access=subscription }}

Confusion with ''Pelargonium''

File:Geranium sanguineum02.jpg

Confusingly, "geranium" is also the common name of members of the genus Pelargonium, which are also in the family Geraniaceae and are widely grown as horticultural bedding plants. Linnaeus originally included all the species in one genus, Geranium, but they were later separated into two genera by Charles L’Héritier in 1789.{{Cite book |last=Lis-Balchin |first=Maria |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-bR8GxQ6BU0C&dq=geranium+genus,+Geranium,+but+they+were+later+separated+into+two+genera+by+Charles+L%E2%80%99H%C3%A9ritier+in+1789+pelargonium&pg=PA52 |title=Geranium and Pelargonium: History of Nomenclature, Usage and Cultivation |date=2002-10-03 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-0-203-21653-8 |language=en}} Other former members of the genus are now classified in Erodium, including the plants known as filarees in North America.{{Cite book |last=Armitage |first=Allan M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kA6VgfxsstIC&dq=geranium+genus+Erodium,+including+the+plants+known+as+filarees&pg=PA391 |title=Herbaceous Perennial Plants: A Treatise on their Identification, Culture, and Garden Attributes |date=2008-05-01 |publisher=Quarto Publishing Group USA |isbn=978-1-61058-380-0 |language=en}}

The term "hardy geranium" is often applied to horticultural Geraniums to distinguish them from the Pelargoniums, which are not winter-hardy in temperate horticulture.{{cite book |last1=Parer |first1=Robin |title=The Plant Lover's Guide to Hardy Geraniums |date=20 April 2016 |publisher=Timber Press |isbn=978-1-60469-418-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e0uLCwAAQBAJ&q=not+all+%27%27Geranium%27%27+species+are+winter-hardy |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Geranium or Pelargonium? Let's Stop the Confusion |url=https://laidbackgardener.blog/geranium-or-pelargonium-lets-stop-the-confusion/ |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=Laidback Gardener |language=en-US}} However, not all Geranium species are winter-hardy (see below).{{cite web |title=Geranium Climate: Sun and Temperature |url=https://geraniumpage.com/sun-and-temperature |website=geraniumpage.com}}

The shape of the flowers offers one way of distinguishing between the two genera Geranium and Pelargonium. Geranium flowers have five very similar petals, and are thus radially symmetrical (actinomorphic), whereas Pelargonium (and also Erodium) flowers have two upper petals which are different from the three lower petals, so the flowers have a single plane of symmetry (zygomorphic).{{Cite web |last=Chris |date=2015-11-28 |title=Pelargonium incarnatum - Is it a Geranium? No it's a Pelargonium |url=https://www.phillipskop.co.za/flora/pelargonium-incarnatum |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=Phillipskop Mountain Reserve |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2022-11-24 |title=Tom Karwin, On Gardening {{!}} Visiting the Geranium family |url=https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2022/11/24/tom-karwin-on-gardening-visiting-the-geranium-family/ |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=Santa Cruz Sentinel |language=en-US}}

Cultivation

A number of geranium species are cultivated for horticultural use and for pharmaceutical products. Some of the more commonly grown species include:

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All the above species are perennials and generally winter-hardy plants, grown for their attractive flowers and foliage. They are long-lived and most have a mounding habit, with palmately lobed foliage. Some species have spreading rhizomes. They are normally grown in part shade to full sun, in well-draining but moisture retentive soils, rich in humus.{{Citation |last1=Phillips |first1=Ellen |last2=Colston Burrell |first2=C. |year=1993 |title=Rodale's illustrated encyclopedia of perennials |pages=373–76 |isbn=978-0-87596-570-3 |publisher=Rodale Press |location=Emmaus, Pa.}} Other perennial species grown for their flowers and foliage include: Geranium argenteum, G. eriostemon, G. farreri, G. nodosum, G. procurrens, G. pylzowianum, G. renardii, G. traversii, G. tuberosum, G. versicolor, G. wallichianum, and G. wlassovianum. Some of these are not winter-hardy in cold areas and are grown in specialized gardens like rock gardens.{{Citation |last1=Jelitto |first1=Leo |last2=Schacht |first2=Wilhelm |last3=Epp |first3=Michael E. |last4=Baumgardt (ed. and transl.) |first4=John Philip |year=1990 |title=Hardy herbaceous perennials |volume=1 |pages=260–64 |isbn=978-0-88192-159-5 |publisher=Timber Press |location=Portland, OR}} Geranium 'Johnson's Blue' is a hybrid between G. himalayense (southwestern China), with G. pratense (European meadow cranesbill).{{cite web |url=http://www.paghat.com/cranesbilljohnsons.html |title=Paghat's Garden |publisher=Paghat.com |access-date=2013-09-17}}

=Cultivars=

File:Geranium (probably 'Johnson's Blue').jpg

The following hybrid cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (other cultivars are dealt with under their species name - see above):-{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf |title=AGM Plants - Ornamental |date=July 2017 |page=39 |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 27 February 2018}}

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  • 'Ann Folkard'{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/23531/Geranium-Ann-Folkard/Details |title=RHS Plant Selector Geranium 'Ann Folkard' AGM / RHS Gardening |publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk |access-date=5 April 2020}}
  • 'A. T. Johnson' (G. × oxonianum){{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/58284/Geranium-x-oxonianum-A-T-Johnson/Details |title=RHS Plant Selector Geranium × oxonianum 'A.T. Johnson' AGM / RHS Gardening |publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk |access-date=5 April 2020}}
  • 'Ballerina' {{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/194563/Geranium-(Cinereum-Group)-Ballerina/Details |title=Geranium (Cinereum Group) 'Ballerina' |publisher=RHS | access-date = 11 July 2020}}
  • 'Blue Cloud'{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/49149/i-Geranium-i-Blue-Cloud/Details |title=RHS Plantfinder - Geranium 'Blue Cloud' | access-date = 1 March 2018}}
  • Blue Sunrise='Blogold' (PBR) {{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/241922/Geranium-Blue-Sunrise-Blogold-(PBR)/Details |title=Geranium Blue Sunrise='Blogold' (PBR) |publisher=RHS | access-date = 11 July 2020}}
  • 'Brookside' {{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/80929/Geranium-Brookside/Details |title=Geranium 'Brookside' |publisher=RHS | access-date = 11 July 2020}}
  • 'Danny Boy'{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/234183/i-Geranium-i-Danny-Boy/Details |title=RHS Plantfinder - Geranium 'Danny Boy' | access-date = 2 March 2018}}
  • 'Dilys'{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/79820/Geranium-Dilys/Details |title=RHS Plant Selector Geranium 'Dilys' AGM / RHS Gardening |publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk |access-date=2013-09-17}}
  • 'Gypsy' (G. × lindavicum){{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/195407/Geranium-x-lindavicum-Gypsy/Details |title=RHS Plantfinder - G. × lindavicum 'Gypsy' | access-date = 1 March 2018}}

  • 'Ivan' {{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/77627/Geranium-Ivan/Details |title=Geranium 'Ivan' |publisher=RHS | access-date = 11 July 2020}}
  • 'Mavis Simpson'{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/33527/Geranium-Mavis-Simpson/Details |title=RHS Plant Selector Geranium 'Mavis Simpson' AGM / RHS Gardening |publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk |access-date=2013-09-17}}
  • 'Nimbus' {{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/97417/Geranium-Nimbus/Details |title=Geranium 'Nimbus' |publisher=RHS | access-date = 11 July 2020}}
  • 'Orion'{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/137507/Geranium-Orion/Details |title=RHS Plant Selector Geranium 'Orion' AGM / RHS Gardening |publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk |access-date=2013-09-17}}
  • Patricia='Brempat'{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/247299/i-Geranium-i-Font-Face-times-New-Roman-Patricia-FONT-Brempat/Details |title=RHS Plantfinder - Geranium Pattricia = 'Brempat' | access-date = 2 March 2018}}
  • Rothbury Gem='Gerfos'{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/262700/Geranium-(Cinereum-Group)-Rothbury-Gem-Gerfos-(PBR)/Details |title=Geranium Rothbury Gem = 'Gerfos' |publisher=RHS | access-date = 14 July 2020}}
  • Rozanne='Gerwat'{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/153768/Geranium-Rozanne-Gerwat-(PBR)/Details |title=RHS Plant Selector Geranium ROZANNE= 'Gerwat' PBR AGM / RHS Gardening |publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk |access-date=5 April 2020}}
  • 'Russell Prichard'{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/91085/i-Geranium-i-×-i-riversleaianum-i-Russell-Prichard/Details |title=RHS Plantfinder - Geranium × riversleainum 'Russell Prichard' | access-date = 2 March 2018}}
  • 'Sirak'{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/108524/Geranium-Sirak/Details |title=Geranium 'Sirak' |publisher=RHS | access-date = 14 July 2020}}
  • 'Wageningen'{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/55128/Geranium-x-oxonianum-Wageningen/Details |title=Geranium × oxonianum 'Wageningen' |publisher=RHS | access-date = 11 July 2020}}
  • 'Wargrave Pink' (G. × oxonianum){{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/91252/Geranium-x-oxonianum-Wargrave-Pink/Details |title=RHS Plant Selector Results / RHS Gardening |publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk |access-date=5 April 2020}}

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Gallery

File:Geranium maculatum - wild cranesbill - desc-flower straight on.jpg

File:Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum).jpg|Geranium maculatum

File:Illustration Geranium phaeum0.jpg|Geranium phaeum - from Thomé Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz 1885

File:Geranium platypetalum1.jpg|Geranium platypetalum

File:Geranium sanguineum0.jpg|Geranium sanguineum

File:Geranium pratense (Meadow Cranesbill).jpg|Geranium pratense (meadow cranesbill)

File:Geranium-robertianum(Samen).jpg|Geranium robertianum (herb robert)

File:GeraniumMaderense.jpg|Geranium maderense

File:Wildgeranium.jpg|Geranium maculatum

File:Starr 980718-1820 Geranium arboreum.jpg|Geranium arboreum

File:Płatek bodziszka.jpg|Geranium petal under the microscopeFile:Geranios Rosas y Rojos.jpg

File:Geranium (probably 'Johnson's Blue').jpg|Geranium (possibly 'Johnson's Blue')

File:גרניון גזור.jpg|Geranium dissectum

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

Bibliography

{{refbegin}}

  • {{cite journal|last1=Aedo|first1=Carlos|last2=Garmendia|first2=Felix Munoz|title=Some Notes on the Sectional Nomenclature of Geranium (Geraniaceae)|journal=Taxon|date=February 1996|volume=45|issue=1|pages=104|doi=10.2307/1222593|jstor=1222593}}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20060409080903/http://www.rjb.csic.es/Geranium/publication/geranium_n_america_perennials.pdf Genus Geranium in North America: the Perennials]

{{refend}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • [https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=29104 ITIS list of Geranium species]
  • [http://www.geranium.es/ Geranium Taxonomic Information System]
  • [https://www.gardenbuildingsdirect.co.uk/blog/how-to-prepare-your-plants-to-survive-winter/ Preparing Geraniums for Winter]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q157211}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Geraniales genera

Category:Garden plants

Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus