Geranium
Geranium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Geraniaceae, commonly called geraniums or cranesbills.
Geranium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Geraniaceae, commonly called geraniums or cranesbills. It includes annual, biennial, and perennial species found mainly in temperate regions, with greatest diversity in the eastern Mediterranean. Garden plants sold as “geraniums” are often in the related genus Pelargonium rather than Geranium. Several species occur in North America, including Geranium maculatum in eastern Canada, making the genus of interest to Canadian gardeners and native-plant enthusiasts.
Taxonomy
Geranium is a genus within the family Geraniaceae. It is separate from Pelargonium, the genus that includes many cultivated plants commonly sold as geraniums.
Description
Geranium species are herbaceous flowering plants with characteristic fruit structures that resemble a crane’s bill. They are known in botany as true geraniums or cranesbills.
Distribution and habitat
The genus occurs throughout temperate regions worldwide and in mountain areas of the tropics. Species diversity is highest in the eastern Mediterranean region.
Common confusion with Pelargonium
In gardening, the word geranium often refers to Pelargonium, especially bedding and container plants. In strict botanical usage, Geranium and Pelargonium are different genera.
Key facts
- Geranium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Geraniaceae.
- Species are commonly called cranesbills because of their beak-like fruit.
- The genus includes annual, biennial, and perennial plants.
- Its greatest species diversity is in the eastern Mediterranean region.
- Many plants marketed as geraniums are actually Pelargonium species.
Several Geranium species occur in North America, including species native to Canada such as Geranium maculatum in eastern North America; the genus is also of interest to Canadian gardeners and native-plant enthusiasts.
Frequently asked questions
What is Geranium?
How many species of Geranium are there?
Where are Geranium species found?
Why are they called cranesbills?
Are garden geraniums the same as Geranium?
References
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeraniumSupports: Genus size, common names, distribution
- Native Plant Trust — https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/dkey/geranium/Supports: Fruit and floral morphology of Geranium
- U.S. Forest Service — https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/geranium_maculatum.shtmlSupports: Family distinction and relation to Pelargonium
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/plant/geranium-plant-genus-GeraniumSupports: Genus overview, species count, distinction from Pelargonium
- University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension — https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/wild-geranium-geranium-maculatum/Supports: North American distribution of a Geranium species