This is how the list of genera should read:

The family Geraniaceae includes:

Erodium
Geranium
Monsonia (including the former Sarcocaulon)
Pelargonium

The four genera in the Geraniaceae are distinguished primarily on the basis
of the number of stamens, actinomorphy vs. zygomorphy and the nectaries.

Actually Sarcocaulon was originally included Monsonia but was raised to a
separate genus on the basis of its persistent fleshy stems and certain
floral differences that turned out to be illusory. Recent morphological and
DNA studies show Sarcocaulon to actually be a subgroup within Monsonia.
Sarcocaulon has simply been reunited with Monsonia where it belongs. The
majority of the species in the genus are annuals or herbaceous perennials.
The genera Pelargonium and Geranium also include species that are shrubby or
have fleshy stems.

Erodium is the only genus in the family to include species with both
actinomorphic and zygomorphic flowers. Monsonia and Geranium are
actinomorphic only and Pelargonium are exclusively zygomorphic because of
the nectary spur.

The other genera that have been associated with the Geraniaceae
(Biebersteinia, Wendtia, Dirachma and Viviania) have been shown to be
unrelated and are now placed in other plant families.

The South American genus Hypseocharis has been shown to be closely allied to
the Geraniaceae in many floral characters but has been placed in its own
family Hypseocharitaceae because of differences in the fruit dehiscence and
other characters.


"Stephen Henning" wrote in message
news
Kay Lancaster wrote:

Zonal pelargoniums ("geraniums" in US garden speak)

The family Geraniaceae includes:

Erodium
Geranium
Monsonia (formerly Sarcocaulon)
Pelargonium

Erodium is a small genus that includes geraniums of Europe and South
America and Australia, especially mountainous regions.

Geranium is a genus of plants having a beaklike torus or receptacle,
around which the seed capsules are arranged, and membranous projections,
or stipules, at the joints. Most of the species have showy flowers and a
pungent odor. Sometimes called crane's-bill.

Monsonia is a genus from South Africa with actinomorphic flowers and are
succulents usually found in areas with extreme drought.

Pelargonium is a large genus of plants of the order {Geraniace[ae]},
differing from Geranium in having a spurred calyx and an irregular
corolla. Most are from South Africa.

Many plants classified in the genus Geranium by the earlier botanists
are now separated from it under the name Pelargonium, which includes all
the commonly cultivated "geraniums" from South Africa.

Hence, geranium (with a small g) refers to all plants that were formerly
in the former grouping of the genus Geranium including Geranium and
Pelargonium. Pelargoniums are a specific group of geraniums which
excludes the crane's-bills.

Native American Geraniums include:

G. arboreum
G. atropurpureum
G. bicknellii
G. caespitosum
G. californicum
G. carolinianum
G. cuneatum
G. erianthum
G. hanaense
G. humile
G. kauaiense
G. lentum
G. maculatum
G. multiflorum
G. oreganum
G. richardsonii
G. robertianum
G. texanum
G. viscosissimum
G. wislizeni

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