Is a Geranium a Pelargonium ? 87 



IS A GERANIUM A PELARGONIUM? 



Mr. Editor, — In the May number, your correspondent, Mr. Menard of 

 Albany, takes exception to some remarks I made relative to the attempted 

 changing of the term " geranium " to " pelargonium," and which you in- 

 dorse as being " eminently just criticism." Permit me to say a few words 

 more in support of the position taken, not by me alone, but by, I believe, 

 ninety-nine out of every hundred gardeners and florists in this country. 



I am as well aware as Mr. Menard can be that the name geranium is 

 applied to a genus of hardy herbaceous plants of which there are numer- 

 ous species ; I am also aware that this family is widely different from the 

 class known as zonale geraniums : but, whether there is botanical affinity 

 enough to class them as one genus, I am not expert sufficient in the science 

 to say. But certain it is, that we have many species classed under the same 

 genus that have habits and appearance even more dissimilar ; the genus 

 Spirea, or Euphorbia, for example. But I did not presume to question the 

 botanical correctness of the change. I have no knowledge on the subject, 

 nor pretended none ; but I do object to following the dictum of some bo- 

 tanical magnate who gives forth his edict of change in the nomenclature 

 of such a varied and popular class. 



He may change with impunity, and as much as he pleases, the genera of 

 obscure plants, and will find none to call him in question but the small 

 circle in which he revolves ; but when he attempts to rob us of the good 

 old name "geranium," and supplant it with "pelargonium," he will find he 

 has millions to contend with. Every old lady in the land will be up in arms 

 against him ; and young ones too, for that matter : for who of them has 

 not their pet geranium, which would lose half its value in their estimation 

 if you forced them to call it by the unfamiliar name of pelargonium ? — a 

 name, by the way, even when applied to the legitimate class, that I have 

 found in my amateur friends a great repugnance to use ; and to ask them 

 to call their " rose," " nutmeg," or " oak-leaf," a pelargonium, w'ould be 

 trenching upon dangerous ground. 



Mr. Menard says that he would like to know from me when the name 

 oi geranium has been changed iox pelargonium. I answer him. To the best 



