Pelargonium odoratissimum
Scented geramium
Pelargonium odoratissimum, commonly known as scented geranium or rose-scented geranium, is a fragrant perennial cherished for its aromatic foliage. Renowned in traditional medicine, its essential oils offer calming and antiseptic properties. This versatile plant serves as both a beautiful ornamental garden staple and a natural remedy for various ailments.
- Scientific name: Pelargonium odoratissimum
- Family: Geraniaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically categorized under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Geraniales, it is a member of the family Geraniaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Pelargonium.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Geraniales | WCVP |
| Family | Geraniaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Pelargonium | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Pelargonium odoratissimum, is known by various regional names across different languages. In Lower Sorbian, it is referred to as Wónjata pelargonija, while in Upper Sorbian, it is called Wonjata pelargonija. It is known as Kvapioji pelargonija in Lithuanian, and in Arabic, it is identified as لقلقي شديد الرائحة or لقلقى شديد الرائحه in Egyptian Arabic.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| dsb | Wónjata pelargonija | Wikidata |
| lt | Kvapioji pelargonija | Wikidata |
| hsb | Wonjata pelargonija | Wikidata |
| ar | لقلقي شديد الرائحة | Wikidata |
| arz | لقلقى شديد الرائحه | Wikidata |
| mk | слаткарче | Wikidata |
| sl | muškatka | Wikidata |
| de | Geranium odoratissimum | Wikidata |
| es | Geranium odoratissimum | Wikidata |
| zh | 豆蔻入腊红 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution that spans across multiple regions. In the Macaronesian islands, it can be found specifically in Madeira. Its presence is also highly significant throughout Southern Africa, where it inhabits the Cape Provinces. Furthermore, the species is widely distributed across KwaZulu-Natal, the Northern Provinces, and Eswatini. Together, these locations highlight the diverse environments where the plant thrives.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Macaronesia | Madeira | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Cape Provinces | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | KwaZulu-Natal | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Eswatini | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Northern Provinces | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Puerto Rico | WCVP |
| Western South America | Ecuador | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as rose geranium, is highly valued in aromatherapy and traditional medicine primarily for its aromatic properties. The most significant medicinal component is derived from its essential oils, which are extracted from the plant's lush, scented leaves and stems. These oils contain a complex profile of chemical constituents that provide therapeutic benefits, such as antimicrobial and calming effects, making the essential oils a cornerstone of the plant's practical application.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| essential oils | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Pelargonium odoratissimum has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include citronellol, citronellyl formate, flavonoids, gallic acid, nerol.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| citronellol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| citronellyl formate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gallic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| nerol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Pelargonium odoratissimum has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |