Definition

Noun: * A species of flowering plant in the geranium family (Geraniaceae), native to southern Africa. It is characterized by its deeply lobed, fragrant leaves and clusters of small pink flowers. It is widely cultivated for the essential oil (geranium oil) extracted from its leaves.

Usage

• The term "Pelargonium graveolens" is the formal botanical name (binomial nomenclature) used in scientific, horticultural, and aromatherapy contexts. It is often used to specify the particular species cultivated for its aromatic properties, distinguishing it from other ornamental pelargoniums or geraniums.
• In common usage, especially in gardening and essential oil contexts, it is frequently referred to simply as "scented geranium" or "rose geranium."

Examples

• Scientific/Horticultural: " is the primary species used for the commercial production of geranium essential oil."
• Descriptive: "The strong, rose-like scent of makes it a popular choice for herb gardens and potpourri."
• Comparative: "While many pelargoniums are grown for their flowers, is prized primarily for its fragrant foliage."

Advanced Usage

• The specific epithet "" is Latin, meaning "strong-smelling" or "heavy-scented," directly describing the plant's most notable characteristic.
• In taxonomic writing, the genus name () is italicized and capitalized, while the species epithet () is italicized but not capitalized.

Variants and Related Words

• Common Name: Scented geranium, Rose geranium.
• Cultivar: There are several cultivated varieties (cultivars) of , such as '' or '', selected for specific scent profiles.
• Related Product: Geranium oil (or Rose Geranium oil) is the essential oil steam-distilled from the leaves of this plant.

Synonyms

• Rose geranium
• Scented geranium
• Sweet-scented geranium

Notes on Meaning

• It is important to distinguish (true scented geranium) from plants in the separate genus (often called hardy geraniums or cranesbills), which are typically not grown for fragrant leaves.
• In the context of aromatherapy and perfumery, "geranium oil" almost always refers to the oil from , not from other or species.

Noun

1. any of several southern African geraniums having fragrant three-lobed to five-lobed leaves and pink flowers