Geraniales

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The Geraniales are a small order of flowering plants, included within the rosid subgroup of dicotyledons. The largest family in the order is the Geraniaceae with over 800 species. In addition, the order includes some small families, contributing together another less than 40 species. Most Geraniales are herbaceous, but there are also shrubs and small trees.

The economic importance of Geraniales is low. Some species of the genus Pelargonium are cultivated for their aromatic oil used in the perfume industry. Some other species, also mostly Geraniaceae, have horticultural or medicinal uses.

Paleobotanic record is missing.

Classification

The families given at right are typical of newer classifications. In this definition, Hypseocharitaceae and Francoaceae with Greyiaceae are included within Geraniaceae and Melianthaceae respectively, but may also be treated separately. Instead, the Ledocarpaceae may be included within the Vivianiaceae.

Under the older Cronquist system, the Geraniales had a different composition, comprising the following families:

The Vivianiaceae and Ledocarpaceae were included within the Geraniaceae, and the Hypseocharitaceae within the Oxalidaceae, which are now treated in the order Oxalidales. The Melianthaceae were placed within the Sapindales, the Greyiaceae and Francoaceae within the Rosales, the latter subsumed within the Saxifragaceae.

References

Bakker, F. T. (December 2002). Geraniales (Geranium). In: Nature Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. Nature Publishing Group, London. (Available online: [DOI] | [ELS site])
B. C. J. du Mortier (1829). Analyse des Familles de Plantes : avec l'indication des principaux genres qui s'y rattachent, 42. Imprimerie de J. Casterman, Tournay.

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