Pelargonium vitifolium
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644046616e319241212880 |
| Scientific name | Pelargonium vitifolium |
| Authority | (L.) L'Hér. |
| First published in | Hort. Kew. 2: 425 (1789) |
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Pelargonium vitifolium is cultivated for the ornamental horticultural market; young plants are sold as potted specimens prized for their attractively lobed leaves and mild, pleasant scent. The species is propagated by cuttings and is available through South African nurseries and international specialty growers.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
- The leaves are steam‑distilled to produce a pale‑yellow essential oil that is marketed as “geranium oil.” The oil possesses a characteristic rose‑like aroma and is used by the fragrance industry in perfumes, soaps, lotions, and other personal‑care products. Analyses of the oil show a high content of citronellol, geraniol, and linalool, the same monoterpenoid profile that underlies the commercial value of related Pelargonium species.
Properties relevant to use:
- The essential oil is a complex mixture of monoterpenoids; the predominance of citronellol (a primary contributor to the floral scent) and geraniol (adds a sweet, rose‑like nuance) defines its olfactory profile. Physical characteristics are typical for geranium oils: density 0.88–0.90 g·cm⁻³ at 20 °C, refractive index 1.46–1.48, and a flash point above 70 °C, as specified in ISO 3216 for Pelargonium‑derived oils. These physicochemical properties facilitate blending with other fragrance components and ensure stability in cosmetic formulations.
Standards and regulation:
- Commercial oil of P. vitifolium conforms to the specifications of ISO 3216 (Geranium oil – specifications), which defines limits for key constituents, density, and refractive index. The product is also subject to the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) guidelines on fragrance safety and to the European Union Cosmetic Regulation (EC No 1223/2009), requiring compliance with safety assessments for use in cosmetic applications.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- The species is native to South Africa and is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Commercial production relies on cultivated material propagated by vegetative cuttings, which reduces harvesting pressure on wild populations. Sustainable cultivation practices—including controlled propagation, integrated pest management, and traceability—are encouraged by South African horticultural organizations to maintain the resource while supporting the ornamental and essential‑oil markets.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Geraniospermum vitifolium | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 94 (1891) |
| Geranium vitifolium | L. | Sp. Pl. : 678 (1753) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | grapeleaf geranium |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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Macaronesia
- Madeira
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Southern Africa
- Cape Provinces
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Macaronesia
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
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Indian Subcontinent
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Northern America click to expand
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Southwestern U.S.A.
- California
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Southwestern U.S.A.
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Southern America click to expand
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Western South America
- Ecuador
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Western South America
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0001064064 |
| USDA Plants | PEVI8 |
| Tropicos | 13900175 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60457188-2 |
| The Plant List | tro-13900175 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 795470 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 253086 |
| Nature Serve | 2.131688 |
| IPNI | 60457188-2 |
| iNaturalist | 78380 |
| GBIF | 2891610 |
| Freebase | /m/09k67kl |
| EPPO | PELVI |
| EOL | 594951 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 6120 |
| USDA GRIN | 427594 |
| Wikipedia | Pelargonium_vitifolium |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
| Title | Authors | Publication | Released | IDs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exploring the Sustainable Exploitation of Bioactive Compounds in Pelargonium sp.: Beyond a Fragrant Plant | Roman S, Voaides C, Babeanu N | Plants (Basel) | 10-Dec-2023 |
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| The traditional use of southern African medicinal plants for the treatment of bacterial respiratory diseases: A review of the ethnobotany and scientific evaluations | Cock IE, Van Vuuren SF | J Ethnopharmacol | 27-Jul-2020 |
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| Composition of the Essential Oil of<i>Pelargonium vitifolium</i>(L.) L'Hérit. (<i>Geraniaceae</i>) | F. E. Demarne, J. J.A. Van der Walt | Informa UK Limited | 24-Apr-2012 |
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |