XVI International Botanical Congess

The section Ciconium of Pelargonium is characterized by fairly regular flowers with short (non-excerted) genitals, a long hypanthium, and an inconspicuously short pedicel. The plants are perennial shrublets, sometimes with somewhat succulent stems. Mostly the leaves are orbicular and often exhibit a reddish zonal marking, thin-textured, and pilose. Like all species of Pelargonium, the whole plant carries glandular hairs which secrete essential oils in different combinations. The basic chromosome number is n = 9. The section is defined according to the above, but also by taking into account some notable deviations from the general patterns. The individual species are assessed in terms of their circumscription, diagnoses, and presumed taxonomical position.