pelargonium

From translingual Pelargonium, from Ancient Greek πελαργός (pelargós, “stork”).

• IPA^(key): /ˌpɛlɑːrˈɡoʊni.əm/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -əʊniəm

pelargonium (plural pelargoniums or pelargonia)

1. Any of various flowering plants of the genus Pelargonium, similar to (and often confused with) true geraniums, but less hardy and often cultivated as annuals for ornamental purposes.

   Synonyms: (common, loosely) geranium, storksbill

   • 1897 April 3, American Florist, volume XII, number 461, page 823:

     The growing of pelargoniums in this country is increasing and they are destined to come to the front and stay there. The pelargoniums that have been distributed during the past several years are giving great satisfaction, combining as they do new shades of color […] .

Geranium is also the related genus of plants commonly known as cranesbills. The cause of the confusion is that the two genera were earlier regarded as being one, called Geranium.

pelargonium m (definite singular pelargonien or pelargoniumen, indefinite plural pelargonier, definite plural pelargoniene)

1. form removed with the spelling reform of 2005; superseded by pelargonia

pelargonium m (definite singular pelargoniumen, indefinite plural pelargoniumar, definite plural pelargoniumane)

1. (pre-2005) alternative form of pelargonia