Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of flowering plant: A pelargonium is a plant belonging to a genus of flowering plants native primarily to South Africa, widely cultivated for their showy flowers and aromatic leaves. They are commonly known as geraniums in horticulture, though they are distinct from true geraniums (genus Geranium).

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The window boxes were filled with bright red pelargoniums.
  • She specializes in breeding new cultivars of pelargonium.

Advanced Usage

• In botanical classification: The term "pelargonium" is used to specify the genus within the family Geraniaceae, differentiating it from the related genus .
  • The study focused on the drought resistance of various pelargonium species.

Variants and Related Words

• Geranium (common name): In everyday gardening language, pelargoniums are often called "geraniums." This is a case of common name overlap with a different botanical genus.
  • I bought a new geranium for the patio. (This likely refers to a pelargonium.)

Synonyms

• Storksbill: An older common name sometimes used for pelargoniums, referring to the shape of the fruit.
• Zonal geranium / Scented geranium / Ivy-leaved geranium: These are descriptive terms for specific popular groups of cultivated pelargoniums.

Noun

1. geraniums native chiefly to South Africa; widely cultivated