Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Geranium zonale in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 678 of Ray Society 1957 facsimile.
Today: The current name for this species is Pelargonium zonale (L.) L’Hér.
original Latin diagnosis
Geranium calycibus monophyllis, foliis cordato-orbiculatis incisis zona notatis.
English translation
Geranium with calyces one-leaved; [and] with leaf blades cordate-orbiculate, cut deeply, [and] with a zone marked.
| Geranium | Geranium |
| with calyces | calycibus - ablative plural of third declension masculine noun calyx, calycis |
| one-leaved; | monophyllis - ablative plural masculine of group A adjective monophyllus, -a, -um; modifies calycibus |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| with leaf blades | foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i |
| cordate-orbiculate, | cordato-orbiculatis = cordato- (combining form of group A adjective cordatus, -a, -um) + orbiculatis (ablative plural neuter); modifies foliis |
| cut deeply, | incisis - ablative plural neuter of perfect passive participle of third conjugation verb incido, incidere, incidi, incisum; modifies foliis |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| with a zone | zona - ablative singular of first declension feminine noun zona, -ae |
| marked. | notatis - ablative plural neuter of first conjugation verb noto, -are, -avi, -atum; agrees with foliis. |