Geranium 57324 223125256 2008-07-02T18:05:25Z Dougz1 1983405 Removed image "Pink Geranium" - this image is a pelargonium not a geranium. :''Gardeners often use the name "geranium" to mean [[pelargonium]]: see below''. {{confuse|germanium}} {{TOCleft}} {{Taxobox | name = Cut-leaved Crane's-bill | image = Geranium February 2008-1.jpg | image_width = 204px | image_caption = ''[[Geranium dissectum]]'' | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Geraniales]] | familia = [[Geraniaceae]] | genus = '''''Geranium''''' | genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]], [[1753]] | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = [[List of cranesbill species|See list.]] }} '''''Geranium''''' is a [[genus]] of 422 species of flowering [[Annual plant|annual]], [[Biennial plant|biennial]], and [[Perennial plant|perennial]] [[plant]]s that are commonly known as the '''cranesbills'''. It is found throughout the temperate regions of the world and the mountains of the tropics, but mostly in the eastern part of the [[Mediterranean region]]. These attractive flowers will grow in any soil as long as it is not waterlogged. [[Plant propagation|Propagation]] is by semi-ripe cuttings in summer, by seed or by division in autumn or spring. The species ''Geranium viscosissimum'' is considered to be [[protocarnivorous]]. The name "cranesbill" derives from the appearance of the seed-heads, which have the same shape as the bill of a [[Crane (bird)|crane]]. The genus name is derived from the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''geranos'', meaning "crane". The long, palmately cleft [[Leaf|leaves]] are broadly circular in form. Their rose, pink to blue or white flowers have 5 petals. Cranesbills are eaten by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Brown-tail]] and [[Mouse Moth]]. <br clear = left /> ==Pelargoniums== Confusingly, "geranium" is also the [[common name]] of members of the genus ''[[Pelargonium]]'', which were formerly classified in the cranesbill genus. In the [[United States]], true Geraniums are frequently distinguished from the less hardy Pelargoniums as (rather redundantly) "hardy geraniums" by gardeners and in the horticultural trade. One can make the distinction between the two by looking at the flowers : ''Geranium'' has symmetrical [[flower]]s, while ''Pelargonium'' has irregular or maculate [[petal]]s. Other former members of the genus are now classified in genus ''[[Erodium]]'', including the plants known as [[filaree]]s in [[North America]]. ==Diseases== {{Main|List of geranium diseases}} ==Gallery== <gallery> Image:Illustration Geranium phaeum0.jpg|Geranium phaeum - from Thomé ''Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz'' 1885 Image:geranium_platypetalum1.jpg|''Geranium platypetalum'' Image:Geranium_sanguineum0.jpg|''Geranium sanguineum'' Image:Johnson's Blue.jpg|Johnson's Blue, garden hybrid of ''Geranium pratense'' Image:Geranium-robertianum(Samen).jpg|Flower and seed-head of Herb Robert<br>(''Geranium robertianum'') Image:geranium_maderense_2.JPG|''Geranium maderense'' Image:GeraniumMaderense.jpg|''Geranium Maderense'' Image:wildgeranium.jpg|''[[Geranium maculatum]]'' </gallery> {{commonscat|Geraniaceae}} ==References== * [http://www.rjb.csic.es/Geranium/publication/geranium_n_america_perennials.pdf Genus geranium in North America: the perennials] ==External links== * [http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=29104 ITIS list of Geranium species] [[Category:Flowers]] [[Category:Geraniales]] [[Category:Garden plants]] {{Link FA|de}} [[bg:Здравец]] [[da:Storkenæb]] [[de:Storchschnäbel]] [[es:Geranium]] [[fr:Géranium (genre)]] [[hsb:Pyskawa]] [[kk:Қазтамақ]] [[lt:Snaputis]] [[nl:Geranium (geslacht)]] [[ja:フウロソウ属]] [[pl:Bodziszek]] [[pt:Geranium]] [[fi:Kurjenpolvet]] [[sv:Nävor]] [[tr:Sardunya (bitki)]] [[vi:Chi Mỏ hạc]] [[zh:老鸛草]] [[ru:Герань]]