Geranium peltatum L.

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Peltated Geranium
• hanging geranium
• ivy geranium
• ivy-leaved pelargonium
• ivyleaf geranium

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Dibrachya clypeata
• Geraniospermum peltatum
• Geranium peltatum
• Pelargonium scutatum
• Pelargonium peltatum var. glabrum
• Pelargonium bachmannii
• Pelargonium clypeatum
• Dibrachya peltata
• Pelargonium peltatum var. clypeatum
• Dibrachya scutata
• Pelargonium peltatum var. scutatum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Geraniales and the family Geraniaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Pelargonium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution that spans several continents and distinct climate zones. In Northern Africa, it can be found growing in the region of Morocco. Its range extends to Macaronesia, specifically within the Canary Islands. The species also thrives in the Cape Provinces of Southern Africa. Finally, its presence reaches the Americas, stretching from the Southwest of Mexico to the state of California in the Southwestern U.S.A.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pelargonium peltatum is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal spectrum, ranging from sea level at an elevation of 6 m AMSL to as high as 2800 m AMSL. This plant is particularly well-adapted to coastal habitats, where it occupies niches shaped by maritime influences. Its wide elevational range suggests a high degree of environmental plasticity, allowing it to persist in diverse topographical settings from low-lying shorelines to significant montane elevations.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

6 m AMSL

Habitat :

Coastal

Life history

The life history of Pelargonium peltatum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its botanical architecture and survival strategy, it is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting traits consistent with a phanerophyte life form where the buds are elevated above the ground level. This growth habit enables the plant to maintain its structural integrity and reproductive capacity over an extended period, adapting to its environmental niche through its enduring perennial nature.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pelargonium peltatum is characterized by a growth form categorized as both a herb and a forb, exhibiting a non-woody structure. As a terrestrial plant, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, maintaining an independent existence as a non-parasitic organism. The plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 2 m. Its shoot orientation is described as scandent, and while it possesses self-supporting climbing capabilities, it functions as a self-supporting entity rather than an obligatory or facultative climber.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

scandent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pelargonium peltatum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits morphological adaptations in its foliage, featuring lobed leaf forms that typically reach a maximum leaf length of 10 cm. The leaf dimensions are consistent, with a mean, minimum, and maximum width all measured at 8 cm. Furthermore, the plant displays physiological succulence, indicating a specialized capacity for water storage within its tissues to manage hydration. Notably, Pelargonium peltatum does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nitrogen sources for its nutritional requirements.

Leaf form :

lobed

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf width mean:

8 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

yes

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pelargonium peltatum is characterized by a versatile reproductive strategy that includes both sexual and asexual methods, with asexual reproduction being present. The plant produces pink flowers arranged in an umbel inflorescence. The flowering period is highly flexible and can occur throughout the entire year, spanning from January to December, though the timing is noted as variable. In terms of its sexual progeny, the seeds are quite small, with a mean seed mass of 0.00625 g, ranging from a minimum of 0 g to a maximum of 0.0125 g. While specific measurements for seed length, seed width, fruit length, and fruit width are recorded as 0, the plant utilizes an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, employing various methods such as anemochory, zoochory, autochory, and hydrochory to spread its seeds.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flower colour :

pink

Flowering time :

Jan

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit length mean:

0 cm

Fruit width mean:

0 cm

Inflorescence :

umbel

Reproduction asexual :

present

Seed length mean:

0 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0125 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00625 g

Seed mass min:

0 g

Seed width mean:

0 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Pelargonium peltatum has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CAMPHENE, Germacrene D, Linalool, MYRCENE, PIPERITONE.

CAMPHENE

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Germacrene D

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Linalool

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

MYRCENE

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

PIPERITONE

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Pelargonium peltatum has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic.

Analgesic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Pelargonium peltatum has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, pain.

Inflammation

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Pain

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)