Botany: ± 800 species; mostly herbs.
Use: ornamental; aromatic oil, perfume.
Subphases1.
Vivianiaceae: Balbisia, Cissarobryon, Rhynchotheca, Viviania, Wendtia.
2.
Monsonioideae: Monsonia.
3.
Geranioideae2: Geranium.
4.
Geranioideae: Geranium.
5.
Pelargonioideae: Pelargonium.
6.
Erodioideae: Erodium.
7.
Melianthaceae, including
Greyiaceae,
Francoaceae: Bersama, Francoa, Greyia, Melianthus, Tetilla.
TaxonomyIn the Cronquist system
Geraniaceae was placed in Oxalidales together with
Oxalidaceae,
Limnanthaceae,
Tropaeolaceae and
Balsaminaceae. In the
Apg2 classification Geraniales was placed in Rosidae, outside Eurosidae 1 and 2. In the
Apg3 classification Geraniales has been connected with the
Myrtales and seen as sister to
Malvidae, or combined with the
Malvidae in an extended
Malvidae.
The demarcation of the families is still in dispute.
Geraniaceae is the main family, the other families are very small.
Plant theoryIn the
Plant theory Geraniales are the third Subclass of
Malvanae, with the emphasis on the
Silicon series: 3-653.00.00.
In the updated version of the
Plant theory the main family
Geraniaceae is split into 5 Subfamilies:
Monsonioideae,
Geranioideae,
Geranioideae, Pelargonoideae and
Erodioideae. They are placed in the subphase 2 to 5.
Vivianiaceae is including
Ledocarpaceae. It is Shifted from
Subphase 7 to
Subphase 1.
Melianthaceae includes
Francoaceae and
Greyiaceae. It is shifted form
Subphase 6 to 7.