These pale pink geranium blossoms were snapped in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, last February.

Your Road Trips Gardener had no idea that there was controversy over this flower until she started researching it for this post.

It seems that two different genera of the Geraniaceae family are commonly referred to as geraniums.

Those pictured here are probably Pelargonium, a genus of flowering plants which includes about 200 species of perennials, succulents, and shrubs, commonly known as scented geraniums or storksbills.

However, as Wikipedia points out, Geranium is the correct botanical name of a separate genus of related plants often called cranesbills. Who knew?

(Photo © 2012 by Susan McKee)