Pelargonium triste Aiton

Geranium triste Linnaeus, Species Plantarum 2: 676. 1753.

"Habitat in Aethiopia & forte in India." RCN: 4960.

Type not designated.

Original material: Herb. Clifford 344: Geranium 12 (BM); Herb. Clifford 345: Geranium 12 γ, sheet 12 (BM); Herb. Linn. No. 858.39 (LINN); Herb. Clifford 345: Geranium 12 γ, sheet 14 (BM); [icon] in Commelin, Hort. Med. Amstelod. Pl. Rar. 2: 123, t. 62. 1701; [icon] in Cornut, Canad. Pl. Hist.: 109, 110. 1635; [icon] in Breyn, Exot. Pl. Cent.: 126, t. 58. 1678.

Current name: Pelargonium triste (L.) Aiton (Geraniaceae).

Note: Wijnands (Bot. Commelins: 107. 1983) provided an extensive discussion, concluding that material in the Clifford herbarium "344.12 beta" should be the type choice. Unfortunately, it is unclear from his statement (there is no variety beta) which of three possible specimens at BM may have been intended. As they are evidently not part of a single gathering, Art. 9.15 does not apply. Albers (in Eggli, Ill. Handb. Succ. Pl., Dicots: 270. 2002) indicated "344.12 (LINN)" as type, but this choice was published after 1 Jan 2001 and so the omission of the phrase "designated here" or an equivalent (Art. 7.11) means that this choice is not effective.