‖ Pelargonium Bot.
(pɛləˈgəʊnɪəm)
[mod.L. (L'Heritier 1787), f. Gr. πελαργός stork: app. modelled on the earlier γεράνιον, geranium.]
An extensive genus of plants of the family Geraniaceæ, chiefly natives of the Cape of Good Hope, having showy flowers and fragrant leaves, commonly cultivated under the name of geranium.
| 1819 Pantologia, Pelargonium, Crane-bill, in botany. 1835 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 7) XI. 686/2 Pelargoniums are of easy culture, propagating readily by cuttings. 1861 Times 23 May, The azaleas, pelargoniums, and other spring flowers being in particularly good condition. 1890 Golden South 155 Pelargoniums grow three or four feet high. |