Geraniaceae

Abstract

Geraniaceae, in the Order of Geraniales, is a Family of dicotyledonous flowering plants, consisting of 5–7 genera with about 830 Species, widely distributed in temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions. Plants are annual or perennial herbs or subshrubs. Leaves are simple or compound, alternate or opposite, palmately or pinnately divided, petiolate, with stipules. Flowers are usually bisexual, actinomorphic, solitary or arranged to cymes, and pseudoumbels. Sepals are 4–5, free or slightly connate, and persistent. Petals are 5 and rarely 4 or apetalous. Stamens are 5 or 2–3 times as many as petals. Ovary is superior and 3–5-loculed. Ovules are 1–2 per locule and axile placenta. Styles are isomerous with ovary locules. Fruit is a capsule or schizocarp with 5 1-seeded awned mericarps and separated elastically from a central beak. Seeds are pendulous, usually with little endosperm or exalbuminous. Embryo is folded. Two Species, belonging to Geranium Genus, are illustrated in this chapter.