any plant of the chiefly southern African geraniaceous genus Pelargonium, having circular or lobed leaves and red, pink, or white aromatic flowers: includes many cultivated geraniums
Word origin
C19: via New Latin from Greek pelargos stork, on the model of geranium; from the likeness of the seed vessels to a stork's bill
pelargonium in American English
(ˌpɛlɑrˈgoʊniəm)
noun
any of a genus (Pelargonium) of mostly South African plants of the geranium family, having circular or lobed, often aromatic,leaves and variously colored flowers
Word origin
ModL Pelargonium < Gr pelargos, stork (after ModL Geranium: see geranium), because the carpels resemble a stork's bill