Origin of the rose-scented Pelargonium cultivar grown on Réunion Island

The Pelargonium cultivar grown on Réunion for the production of rose-scented geranium oil is locally known as the cv. Rosé. The origin of the cv. Rosé is demonstrated by comparing its morphology, chromosome number and essential oil with those of putative ancestral species. It is concluded that P. capitatum (L.) L’Hérit. and P. radens H.E. Moore can be considered as the parent species. A comparison of the characters of the cv. Rosé and those of artificial hybrids between P. capitatum and P. radens, confirmed the assumption. Die Pelargonium-kultivar wat op Réunion vir die produksie van roosgeurige geraniumolie gekweek word, staan lokaal bekend as die cv. Rosé. Die oorsprong van die cv. Rosé word gedemonstreer deur ’n vergelyking van sy morfologie, chromosoomgetal en essensiële olie met dié van vermeende ouerspesies. Daar word tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat P. capitatum (L.) L’Hérit. en P. radens H.E. Moore beskou kan word as die ouerspesies. ’n Vergelyking van die kenmerke van die cv. Rosé met dié van kunsmatige hibriede tussen P. capitatum en P. radens, bevestig hierdie gevolgtrekking.