Geraniaceae

Non-woody (herbaceous) plants with 5 separate pink, purple or white petals, and an elongate sterile beak arising from the ovary. Arrangement of flowers solitary to clustered (like cymes or umbels), at the top of stems and ends of branches, or where the leaves join the stems (axils). Individual flowers usually with both pollen-producing and seed-producing structures, symmetrical in all directions (radially) or bilaterally. Sepals usually 5, separate or fused at the base, the upper one occasionally prolonged to form a tubular structure (spur) that contains nectar and is an integral part of the flower stalk. Petals usually 5, separate, usually overlapping and often with a shallow notch at the tip of each. Stamens 10, in two rings, their stalks separate to slightly fused, the inner stamens producing pollen, and outer stamens sometimes sterile. Carpels 5, fused; ovary located above site of attachment of the other flower parts, more or less lobed, and attached in a ring around a prominent long persistent beak or column that bears a single style at its tip. Stigmas 5, often elongate. Nectar glands usually alternating with the petals, or absent.

Fruit a dry capsule (schizocarp) with 5 long one-seeded segments that each separate elastically and often explosively to release the seeds from the base of the central beak, and each has an awn that peels upward, often remains attached to the top of the beak and curves outward, coils or spirals with changes in humidity.

Leaves alternate and spiral, or opposite, simple and lobed, dissected or compound. The leaf segments may come from a central point like fingers on a hand (palmate) or may arise on both sides of the leaf stalk (pinnate). Stipules usually present. Hairs simple, often gland-headed, with aromatic oils.