geranium

The term "geranium" can refer to two distinct genera of plants: Geranium and Pelargonium. The Geranium genus includes about 300 species of perennial herbs and shrubs, primarily from southern Africa, and are commonly known as cranesbills due to the shape of their fruit resembling a crane's bill.12

The genus Pelargonium, also commonly called geraniums, comprises around 280 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbaceous plants. These are the popular bedding and greenhouse plants often recognized for their showy flowers in shades of white, pink, and red. Many cultivated varieties are hybrids, bred for diverse flower forms and colors. Scented-leaved geraniums, also from the Pelargonium genus, are commercially important for producing geranium oil, an essential oil used in perfumery.13