Geranium

Geranium, or commonly cranesbill, is a genus of annual and perennial herbs as well as some soft-wooded undershrubs in the Geraniaceae family. The plants usually grow jointed branches.

The generic name is derived from the Greek name for a crane, geranos and -ium meaning characteristic of, referring to the shape of the fruit that resembles the (head and) beak of this bird.

Pelargoniums are often called geraniums, in Afrikaans malva. The Malvaceae is, however, the family name of hibiscus-type plants. Names change, while grandmothers plant names persist in the private garden. Just dont call them all Pete!

The stalked leaves of Geranium plants are opposite or alternate and palmately lobed or dissected into segments. Stipules are present and leaf segments may also be lobed or toothed.

The solitary or paired flowers are radially symmetric, growing from leaf axils, usually stalked. The five sepals with three prominent veins each are usually pointed and covered in glandular hairs. The five petals are usually obovate, notched on the upper margin and with a few hairs near the base. Corolla colours are white, pink or purple.

The disc in the flower base has five glands alternating with the petals. There are usually ten stamens in two series, sometimes only five bearing anthers. The filaments are free or joined in their basal parts. The superior, five-lobed ovary has five locules containing two ovules each.

The fruits are one-seeded with arched awns that are usually hairless. The seeds are mostly oblong.

There are about 300 species in temperate regions on earth, 31 of which occur in southern Africa. Some species are used medicinally and as a tea. The flowers attract butterflies.

The plant in picture is Geranium drakensbergensis (Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Andrew, 2017; Manning, 2009; Pooley, 1998).