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Geranium richardsonii

Geranium richardsonii

9.9
A wild geranium from western North America with small clusters of white or pale pink flowers
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : geranio de Richardson
  • Botanists identified the specimen as Geranium richardsonii because of its distinct pale pink flowers.

Examples

  • Hikers often admire the delicate clusters of Geranium richardsonii along mountain trails.

  • The meadows were dotted with blooming Geranium richardsonii throughout the summer.

  • The Geranium richardsonii blooms beautifully in spring.

  • Have you seen the Geranium richardsonii at the botanical garden?

  • Hikers often admire the delicate clusters of Geranium richardsonii along mountain trails.

  • The meadows were dotted with blooming Geranium richardsonii throughout the summer.

  • Botanists identified the specimen as Geranium richardsonii because of its distinct pale pink flowers.

Synonyms

Richardson's geranium
vsGeranium richardsonii
  • Specialized
9.3

A wild plant with small white or pale pink flowers that grows in western North America

is the specific wild species classification rather than a general plant name

How Broad

order
  • Specialized
66 7.5
family
  • Specialized
155 4.0
genus
  • Specialized
13 7.1
Geranium richardsonii
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

Geranium + richardsonii

A learner who knows 'Geranium' will readily infer this refers to a type or species of geranium, so the general referent (a plant) is transparent. However, 'richardsonii' is a Latinized specific epithet (likely a surname) with no independent, predictable English meaning, so the exact identity/nuance is not derivable from its parts. Because the genus gives most of the meaning but the specific epithet is opaque, the expression is best classified as semi-transparent.

Etymology

Geranium richardsonii gets its name from the plant group Geranium and the second part richardsonii, which likely 'honors' a person named Richardson who first found or studied the plant. Imagine a plant scientist named Richardson finding the pale pink wild geranium on a mountain trail, so the name tells you both the kind of flower and who it is 'named after'.