Black Pelargonium

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Black Pelargonium
• African Geranium
• Black Storksbill
• South African Geranium

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Geraniospermum sidifolium
• Geranium sidifolium
• Cortusina sidifolia
• Pelargonium spectabile

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, it is classified under the family Geraniaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Pelargonium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found throughout the diverse landscapes of Southern Africa. It is widely distributed across the Cape Provinces, where it thrives in various ecological niches. Additionally, its range extends into the mountainous regions of Lesotho. The species can also be located within the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State. Finally, its geographical presence includes the territory of Eswatini.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pelargonium sidoides is defined by its ability to thrive across a diverse vertical gradient within its native habitats. This species occupies a broad altitudinal spectrum, demonstrating significant adaptability to varying environmental pressures found at different heights. Its ecological distribution spans an elevational range starting from as low as 300 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum of 2700 m AMSL. This wide range suggests that the plant can tolerate a variety of microclimates, from warmer, lower-altitude regions to the cooler, more temperate conditions characteristic of higher mountainous elevations.

Elevational range max:

2700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Pelargonium sidoides is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a cryptophyte, it utilizes specialized underground structures to survive unfavorable environmental conditions, ensuring its long-term survival in its natural habitat. Specifically, its life form is classified as a geophyte, meaning it relies on underground storage organs, such as tubers, to endure periods of dormancy and regenerate during optimal seasonal conditions.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pelargonium sidoides is characterized by a growth form that functions as both a herb and a subshrub, displaying a non-woody structure. This plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte, and it is a self-supporting species rather than a climber. In terms of physical dimensions, it maintains a relatively low stature, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 0.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pelargonium sidoides has 2 reported plant parts identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, stem.

Root

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology
4. PloS one
5. Talanta

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Pelargonium sidoides has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Coumarins, Umckalin, Flavonoids, Gallic acid, 4-aminobutyrate.

Coumarins

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Metabolic engineering
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Umckalin

1. Talanta
2. Planta medica
3. Cells
4. Metabolites

Flavonoids

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Metabolic engineering

Gallic acid

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

4-aminobutyrate

1. Metabolites

7-hydroxy-5,6-dimethoxycoumarin

1. Talanta

COUMARALDEHYDE

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Coumaric Acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Esculin

1. Metabolites

Flavonoid

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Activities

Pelargonium sidoides has 11 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Antiviral, Antioxidant, Antiadhesive.

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Heliyon
3. Journal of drug assessment
4. The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology

Antibacterial

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Antiviral

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Antiadhesive

1. Heliyon

Anticancer

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Antifungal

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiinflammatory

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antitussive

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Immunostimulant

1. Planta medica

Conditions

Pelargonium sidoides has 22 reported investigations on conditions identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, common cold, cough, respiratory tract infections, HIV-1.

Cancer

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Molecular diversity

Common cold

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Planta medica

Cough

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Planta medica

Respiratory tract infections

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hiv-1

1. PloS one

Mycobacterium fortuitum

1. Journal of applied microbiology

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

1. Journal of applied microbiology

Sars-cov

1. Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology

Bacterial infections

1. Heliyon

Herpes simplex virus

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Preparations

Pelargonium sidoides has 26 reported preparations identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extract from the roots of Pelargonium sidoides, EPs 7630, EPs 7630 tablets, EPs® 7630, Extracts prepared from the tubers.

Extract from the roots of pelargonium sidoides

1. Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology
2. Journal of drug assessment

Eps 7630

1. Forschende Komplementarmedizin (2006)

Eps 7630 tablets

1. Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology

Eps® 7630

1. Heliyon

Extracts prepared from the tubers

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

P. sidoides aerial tissue extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ps extract

1. PloS one

Pst

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Pelargonium sidoides radix mother tincture

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Pelargonium sidoides tincture

1. Pharmaceutical biology