| Pelargonium zonale | |
|---|---|
 | |
| In South Africa | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Geraniales |
| Family: | Geraniaceae |
| Genus: | Pelargonium |
| Species: | P. zonale |
| Binomial name | |
| Pelargonium zonale | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Pelargonium zonale is aspecies ofPelargonium native tosouthern Africa in the western regions of theCape Provinces, in thegeranium family. It is one of the parents of the widely cultivated plantPelargonium ×hortorum, often called "geranium", "horseshoe geranium", "zonal geranium" or "zonal pelargonium".[2]
The genus namePelargonium, inscientific Latin, derives from the Greekpelargós (πελαργός), designating thestork, the shape of the fruit evoking the beak of the bird. The specific epithetzonale is the neutral inflected form of the Latinzonalis "relative to the zone", with reference to the brown zone on the leaf.
Pelargonium zonale was collected byHenrik Bernard Oldenland in 1689 atMeiringspoort Pas. The species was described by the Dutch botanistJan Commelijn (1629–1692) and illustrated with a watercolor by Maria Moninckx. [citation needed]
Pelargonium zonale is an upright or scramblingshrub, normally growing to about 1 m (3 ft) in height. Its stems aresucculent, hairy when young and becoming woody with age. The leaves often have a narrow, dark,zigzag "zone" of pigmentation, giving rise to both the scientific and common names. The flowers are borne in anumbel; individual flowers are markedlyzygomorphic. Thepetals are narrow and a bright, deep pink, with reddish lines along the petals' length. Leaves arereniform andpetiolate with an average diameter of 5–8 cm (2–3 in).[2]
In the 16th century, Pelargonium seeds were transported from Africa to Leiden in the Netherlands, where the plant was grown in the botanical garden there. Within a few years, it reached the British Isles, France, Italy and Spain and became popular. It gradually reached the islands of the Caribbean, and in the 17th century it was already known in North America. Today it is naturalized in many subtropical and tropical countries[which?] and in colder areas must be grown indoors.
Plants can be obtained from seeds orvegetatively. The hard-coated seeds germinate within 14 days at about 20 °C. once the seed coat is compromised.[citation needed]Micropropagation has been used commercially since the 20th century.
Intemperate climate zones, plants are set out in gardens in the spring, then can be dug prior to the first freeze and brought indoors to overwinter; they can be re-planted in the spring.
This species, when hybridized with closely related species, has yielded a group of hybrid plants referred to asPelargonium x hortorum. These hybrids are usually referred to by thecommon name "zonal geranium".
