geranium

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Horse-shoe Pelargonium
• Horseshoe Pelargonium
• Horseshoe Storksbill
• horseshoe geranium

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hoarea marginata
• Geranium stenopetalum
• Hoarea amoena
• Geraniospermum zonale
• Pelargonium stenopetalum
• Geranium marginatum
• Pelargonium siccifolium
• Pelargonium placidum
• Campylia variegata
• Pelargonium rosula
• Pelargonium zonale var. quadricolor
• Pelargonium leptopetalum
• Pelargonium leucanthum
• Pelargonium novum
• Pelargonium crenatum
• Pelargonium clarum
• Pelargonium densiflorum
• Pelargonium amoenum
• Ciconium marginatum
• Ciconium leptopetalum
• Ciconium leucanthum
• Ciconium placidum
• Ciconium clarum
• Ciconium cocciniflorum
• Ciconium crenatum
• Ciconium densiflorum
• Ciconium zonale
• Ciconium siccifolium
• Ciconium stenopetalum
• Pelargonium zonale var. marginatum
• Geranium quadricolor
• Pelargonium zonale var. lacunosum
• Geranium zonale
• Ciconium rosula

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 specific geographical distribution primarily concentrated around the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions. In Southwestern Europe, its presence is notably recorded in Spain. The species also extends into Northern Africa, where it can be found in Morocco. Furthermore, it is widely distributed across Macaronesia, including the Canary Islands and Madeira. Finally, its range reaches as far as the Cape Verde archipelago.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pelargonium zonale is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse altitudinal gradient, demonstrating significant adaptability to varying topographic conditions. This species occupies a broad ecological niche, with its distribution spanning from low-lying areas at a minimum elevation of 61 m AMSL to high-altitude environments reaching a maximum of 2620 m AMSL. Such an expansive elevational range suggests that the plant can tolerate a wide spectrum of temperature regimes, atmospheric pressures, and moisture availability found across different mountain profiles. This vertical distribution facilitates its presence in various microclimates, allowing it to persist in both subtropical lowland habitats and cooler, montane ecological zones.

Elevational range max:

2620 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

61 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Pelargonium zonale is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, although its developmental trajectory can be variable depending on environmental conditions and cultivation practices. As a perennial, the species is capable of living for multiple years, often maintaining its growth through successive seasons if provided with adequate moisture and warmth. While it primarily follows a long-term survival strategy, its lifecycle can occasionally manifest as annual or biennial in response to harsh climatic stressors or specific growing cycles. The plant typically begins its life through seed germination or vegetative propagation, establishing a robust root system that supports its upright, bushy growth habit. Throughout its lifespan, it undergoes seasonal cycles of vegetative expansion and flowering, with its longevity being heavily influenced by the stability of its habitat and the presence of regular growing seasons.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pelargonium zonale is characterized by a growth form categorized as both a herb and a forb, exhibiting a woody texture in its structure. This terrestrial plant, which functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte, maintains an erect shoot orientation. As a self-supporting species, it does not function as a climber, liana, or vine. The plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.4 m to a maximum of 3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pelargonium zonale is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes. The plant exhibits morphological adaptations such as orbicular leaf forms that vary in dimension, typically maintaining a leaf width ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 8 cm. Additionally, the species demonstrates physiological succulence, a trait that facilitates water storage and enhances its ability to manage moisture levels within its tissues.

Leaf form :

orbicular

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

yes

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pelargonium zonale is characterized by a diverse flowering cycle that can occur throughout the entire year, with flowering periods typically spanning from January to December, though this timing can remain variable depending on environmental conditions. The plant produces flowers in an umbel inflorescence, featuring blossoms that range in length from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 2 cm. These flowers are typically pink in color. Following pollination, the plant produces seeds with a highly consistent mass, recorded at a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 0.00472 g, facilitating its dispersal and subsequent propagation.

Flower colour :

pink

Flower length max:

2 cm

Flower length min:

1.5 cm

Flowering time :

Jan

Flowering time :

Dec

Inflorescence :

umbel

Seed mass mean:

0.00472 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Pelargonium zonale has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthocyanins, Gallotannins, kaempferol, quercetin.

Anthocyanins

1. PloS one

Gallotannins

1. PloS one

kaempferol

1. PloS one

quercetin

1. PloS one

Activities

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

Antibacterial

1. PloS one