Rose-scent Storksbill

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Rose-scent Storksbill
• Rose-scented Geranium
• rose-scented pelargonium
• sweet scented geranium

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hoarea intermixta
• Geranium asperum
• Pelargonium citrosum
• Pelargonium terebinthinaceum
• Geranium graveolens

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Geraniales and the family Geraniaceae, it is classified under the genus Pelargonium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans across several distinct regions. In Southwestern Europe, its presence can be noted in the area of Corse. Moving toward Southeastern Europe, it is also found within Sicilia. The species extends into the Macaronesia region, specifically inhabiting the Canary Is. Furthermore, its distribution reaches into South Tropical Africa in Zimbabwe and extends to the Cape Provinces of Southern Africa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pelargonium graveolens is characterized by a broad adaptive capacity across diverse topographical gradients, allowing it to thrive in a wide variety of montane and lowland environments. The species exhibits a significant altitudinal tolerance, occupying a diverse vertical niche that spans from low-lying areas at an elevation of 120 m AMSL to high-altitude regions reaching up to 2900 m AMSL. This expansive elevational range suggests that the plant is capable of acclimating to varying atmospheric pressures, temperature fluctuations, and moisture availability inherent in different mountain strata. Such ecological plasticity enables it to inhabit multiple climatic zones, ranging from warmer, more humid lowland ecosystems to the cooler, more temperate conditions found at higher elevations.

Elevational range max:

2900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

120 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Pelargonium graveolens is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle within a single year. As an evergreen species, it maintains its foliage throughout much of its existence, providing a continuous green presence depending on environmental conditions. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and evergreen habit enables the plant to establish robust root systems and sustain steady growth over long periods.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pelargonium graveolens is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub or forb, exhibiting a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a climber or vine. As a terrestrial plant, it is non-epiphytic and functions as an independent organism, neither parasitic nor aquatic. The plant maintains an erect shoot orientation, with its stature typically ranging from a minimum height of 0.6 m to a maximum of 1.3 m, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 1.2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.3 m

Plant height mean:

1.2 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological structure of Pelargonium graveolens is characterized by specific morphological adaptations in its foliage and distinct metabolic profiles. The leaves exhibit a complex pinnatipartite form, which optimizes surface area for photosynthetic activity while managing transpiration rates. These leaves typically reach a maximum length of 4 cm and a maximum width of 6 cm, dimensions that support the plant's respiratory and metabolic requirements. In terms of nutrient acquisition, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Leaf form :

pinnatipartite

Leaf length max:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pelargonium graveolens is characterized by its distinct floral morphology and a flexible flowering phenology. The plant produces pink-colored flowers that are arranged in an umbel inflorescence. Individually, the flowers typically range in length from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 3 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruits that maintain a consistent length of approximately 2 cm, with both the mean and maximum measurements recorded at this value. The reproductive cycle is highly adaptable regarding timing; flowering can start as early as January and can continue through to December, though the specific period is variable depending on environmental conditions. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a mean, minimum, and maximum seed mass all measured at 0.00412 g, indicating a uniform and fine seed size for this species.

Flower colour :

pink

Flower length max:

3 cm

Flower length min:

2 cm

Flowering time :

Jan

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit length max:

2 cm

Inflorescence :

umbel

Seed mass mean:

0.00412 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pelargonium graveolens has 2 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Nanomedicine : nanotechnology, biology, and medicine
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Cardiovascular & hematological disorders drug targets
4. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Stem

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Chemicals

Pelargonium graveolens has 176 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Citronellol, GERANIOL, Linalool, Citronellyl formate, CD.

Citronellol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. Current microbiology
4. BMC veterinary research
5. International journal of phytoremediation

GERANIOL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. Current microbiology
4. BMC veterinary research
5. International journal of phytoremediation

Linalool

1. Scientific reports
2. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises
3. Natural product research
4. Plant, cell & environment

Citronellyl formate

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

CD

1. International journal of phytoremediation
2. Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)

EO

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

ISO-MENTHONE

1. Natural product research
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Isomenthone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

MENTHOL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

MENTHONE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Activities

Pelargonium graveolens has 263 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
3. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Environmental science and pollution research international

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Environmental science and pollution research international
5. Scientific reports

Antifungal

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Applied microbiology and biotechnology
3. Scientific reports

Antimicrobial

1. Lipids in health and disease
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Fitoterapia

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Pelargonium graveolens has 23 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, wound healing, E. coli, Escherichia coli, Gram-negative bacteria.

Inflammation

1. Scientific reports
2. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Wound healing

1. Scientific reports
2. World journal of plastic surgery

E. coli

1. Nanomedicine : nanotechnology, biology, and medicine

Escherichia coli

1. Scientific reports

Gram-negative bacteria

1. Scientific reports

Gram-positive bacteria

1. Scientific reports

Mycobacterium fortuitum

1. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery

Mycobacterium kansasii

1. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

1. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery

Mycobacterium tuberculosis h37rv

1. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery

Preparations

Pelargonium graveolens has 17 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oil, essential oils, EO, Essential Oils, Nanoscale geraniuim waste (GW).

Essential oil

1. Plant cell reports
2. Lipids in health and disease
3. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
4. Scientific reports
5. Plant, cell & environment

Essential oils

1. World journal of plastic surgery
2. Applied microbiology and biotechnology
3. Journal of dietary supplements
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Environmental science and pollution research international

Eo

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Essential oils

1. World journal of plastic surgery

Nanoscale geraniuim waste (gw)

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Pgeo

1. Scientific reports

Pgeo-ne

1. Scientific reports

Pelargonium oil

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Aqueous pelargonium graveolens leaf extract

1. Nanomedicine : nanotechnology, biology, and medicine

Aqueous extract of leaves of pelargonium graveolens

1. Cardiovascular & hematological disorders drug targets