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Posted by honestpaggle (U13898802) on Thursday, 2nd April 2009
Why do even the presenters call Pelargoniums - Geraniums. the first did'nt come in to this country till the 18th century.Please someone correct me if I am wrong, also Pelargoniums - some at least, will die if left to a frosty night, but the good old Geranium will still be going strong right through the Winter. Answers please from the ones who know.
Native European hardy geraniums have the common name Crane's Bill because their seed head looks like one when it's forming in the flower.
When pelargoniums first arrived from SA they were thought to be geraniums too as they have a similar seed form.
As the science of taxonomy and plant identification developed it was realised that the two plants are not related so the introductions were given their own name but the common name of geranium still sticks with pelargonuiums in the UK and on the continent.
Thank you Obelixx for clearing this up - I have often wondered about this (gazing sadly at frostbitten pelargonum) and now I know!
Yes, of course, it is now traditional so entire rafts of folk now regard Zonal Pelargoniums as the familiar half hardy or bedding type Geraniums while thinking the hardy Geranium is of the same family.
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