학명: Pelargonium sp
분류: 쥐손이풀과(Geraniaceae)
사진: 2013.02.14 강원도립화목원
Pelargonium속은 전 세계적으로 약 200종이 있다. 아래 종이 이름이 무엇인지는 확실치 않으나 애플제라늄 Pelargonium odoratissimum (L.) L'Hér.이 아닐까 추정해본다.
The difference between a Geranium and a Pelargonium
While the genera Geranium and Pelargonium are related, both being members of the family Geraniaceae, they are quite distinct. True geraniums, also known as cranesbills, referring to the shape of the fruit, for the most part have symmetrical flowers with ten fertile stamens. Most Pelargonium have bilaterally symmetrical flowers with up to seven of the ten stamens fertile. True Geraniums have a different seed dispersal technique than Pelargoniums. Geraniums fling their seeds away while Pelargonium seeds float away on the breeze and usually have a 'feathered ' end that Geraniums don't have. Of course, you can only see this when they are producing seeds.
Pelargoniums are tender perennials and occur naturally almost entirely within South Africa. Leave of true geraniums are usually deeply divided and cut while those of most groups of pelargoniums are not. Pelargoniums also have rather thick, succulent stems, originating as they do from areas where they have to withstand summer drought, whereas geraniums have the appearance of 'normal' herbaceous perennial plants, a mounding form of many many slender stems arising from a central core, and fibrous roots.
출처:
http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/geranium/2002075804001127.html
중요한 점들을 요악하면 두 종의 차이는 아래와 같다
| Geranium | Pelargonium | |
| 꽃의 형태 | 방사상칭 꽃 잎 5개의 형태가 같다 |
좌우상칭 꽃잎 2개는 다른 3개와 형태가 다르다 (크기 또는 색깔, 무늬 등...) |
| 열매 | 씨앗은 튕겨나간다. | 씨앗은 바람에 불려간다. |
| 잎 | 깊게 갈라진다 | 얕게 갈라진다 |
| 줄기 | 다육질이 아니다 | 대체로 다육질이다. |