Geraniaceae

Herbs and subshrubs, many with the long beaked seed capsule that gives the cranesbills their name. Medicinally the family is characterised by astringent, tannin-rich tissues and, in Pelargonium, aromatic roots used for respiratory infection. Note that the ornamental “geraniums” of garden centres are Pelargonium species, not true Geranium — a naming collision worth keeping straight.