''Pelargonium radens'', the rasp-leaf pelargonium is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of ''

Pelargonium ''Pelargonium'' () is a genus of flowering plants that includes about 280 species of perennials, succulents, and shrubs, commonly called geraniums, pelargoniums, or storksbills. '' Geranium'' is also the botanical name and common name of a separ ...

''. It is in the subgenus Pelargonium along with ''

Pelargonium crispum ''Pelargonium crispum'' (the "crisped-leaf pelargonium") is a ''Pelargonium'' species native to the Western Cape Province, South Africa. It is in the subgenus ''Pelargonium'' along with ''Pelargonium graveolens'' and ''Pelargonium capitatum'' and ...

'' and '' Pelargonium tomentosum''.

Description

''Pelargonium radens'' is an evergreen perennial plant, growing to up to high. It has deeply cut triangular scented gray-green leaves and in the summer bears clusters of small pink-purple flowers, followed by small curly-tailed brownish seeds. It is originally from the southern and eastern Cape,

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

, where it grows in ravines or gorges near streams or among shrubs on mountainsides.

Etymology

''Pelargonium'' comes from the Greek πελαργός ''pelargos'', which means

stork Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills. They belong to the family called Ciconiidae, and make up the order Ciconiiformes . Ciconiiformes previously included a number of other families, such as herons an ...

. Another name for pelargoniums is stork's-bills due to the shape of their fruit. Radens refers to the coarse, rasp leaves.

Cultivars and hybrids

There are a few cultivars and hybrids of ''Pelargonium radens''. These include: * ''Pelargonium'' 'Candy Dancer' - A rose scented variety. The flowers are less marked than the species. * ''Pelargonium'' 'Crowfoot' - A minty rose scented variety. * ''Pelargonium'' 'Dr Livingstone' (Synonym - 'Skeleton Rose') - A rose scented variety with less dissected leaves that the species. * ''Pelargonium'' 'Radula' - A rose scented variety. Often thought of as a synonym of the species or a named clone. * ''Pelargonium'' 'Red Flowered Rose' - A reddish-pink flowered variety that could be a hybrid between one of the other rose scented species. * ''Pelargonium'' × ''asperum'' - A rose scented hybrid between '' Pelargonium capitatum'' and ''P. radens''. This hybrid is the most commonly used pelargonium in the perfume industry. Not to be confused with the sweet scented species ''Pelargonium asperum''.

Uses

Traditionally the edible leaves were used as a flavoring in jellies and in herbal teas. An essential oil extracted from the leaves and flowers is used commercially as a food flavoring and additive (geranium oil, rose geranium oil). This essential oil is classified as ''Generally Recognized as Safe'' by the US FDA when small quantities are added to foods. ''Pelargonium radens'' is used as a house plant. It is also cultivated as an ornamental in, e.g., North America, in USDA hardiness zones 10–11. Propagation is by seeds and stem cuttings.

References

radens Endemic flora of South Africa House plants Garden plants {{Geraniaceae-stub