Geum — Mediated Wiki

{{Short description|Genus of plants}} {{For|the river|Geum River}} {{Automatic taxobox |image = 304 Geum rivale.jpg |image_caption = Illustration of ''Geum rivale'' |taxon = Geum |authority = L. |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = List of ''Geum'' species |synonyms = {{collapsible list|bullets = true |title=Synonymy |''Acomastylis'' Greene |''Coluria'' R.Br. |''Erythrocoma'' Greene |''Neosieversia'' (incorrect spelling of ''Novosieversia'') |''Novosieversia'' F.Bolle |''Oncostylus'' (Schltdl.) F.Bolle |''Oreogeum'' (Ser.) E.I.Golubk. |''Orthurus'' Juz. |''Parageum'' Nakai & H.Hara |''Stylypus'' Raf. |''Taihangia'' T.T.Yu & C.L.Li |''Waldsteinia'' Willd. |}}}} '''''Geum''''' (L.) {{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|iː|ə|m}},<ref>''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607</ref> commonly called '''avens''', is a flowering plant genus of about 60 accepted species and hybrids, within the Rosaceae family in the order of Rosales, in the major group angiosperms. The species of the genus are widely distributed across Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa, and New Zealand. They are closely related to ''Potentilla'' and ''Fragaria''. From a basal rosette of leaves, they produce flowers on wiry stalks, in shades of white, red, yellow, and orange, in midsummer.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}

==Description== Species within Geum genus are herbaceous perennials, often rhizomatous and sometimes stoloniferous. 10-120 cm in height, though rarely above 60 cm, erect and simple stem, 1-5, either glabrous or hairy.<ref name = "FloraChina">{{cite web |title=Geum |website=Flora of China @ eFloras |publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden & Harvard University Herbaria |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=113505 |access-date=11 May 2026 }}</ref> <ref name = "FloraNA">{{cite web |title=Geum |website=Flora of North America |publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden & Harvard University Herbaria |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=113505 |access-date=11 May 2026 }}</ref> <ref name = "BritAc">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Avens |encyclopedia=Britannica Academic |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |date=2015-01-23 |url=https://academic-eb-com.ezp.sub.su.se/levels/collegiate/article/avens/11413 |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref>, growing in a mounding habit.<ref name = "NCGarden">{{cite web |title=Geum (Avens) |website=North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox |publisher=NC State Extension |url=https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/geum/ |access-date=11 May 2026 }}</ref> Geum species are evergreen except where winter temperatures drop below {{convert|0|°F|°C}}.{{cn|date=May 2026}} The most distinctive feature of many members of Geum is an geniculate-jointed style, that forms a hook. Though, this is not true for all species within the genus.<ref name = "FloraNA"/>

====Leaves==== [[File:Geum urbanum bgiu.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Leaves of ''Geum urbanum'']] Basal leaves pinnate or pseudopinnate, deeply lobed, winter-persistent, in some species leaf shape changes over the growing season. Cauline leaves few, often 3-foliolate but sometimes bractlike, or simple, lyrate-pinnate or odd-pinnate. Terminal leaflet commonly largest. Often smaller leaflets intermixed with larger ones. Stipules adnate to the petiole or blade, or more or less free, linear, lanceolate, or ovate, with entire, toothed, or lobed margins.<ref name = "FloraChina"/> <ref name = "FloraNA"/> <ref name = "BritAc"/>

====Inflourescence==== [[File:Geum quellyon (5508452120).jpg|thumb|right|200px|Flower of ''Geum quellyon'']] Terminal inflourescence bearing 1-18 flowers in open cymes. Flowers 4-46 mm diameter and bisexual. Sepals 5(-10), valvate and persistent. Bracteoles or epicalyx, often 5, small. Petals 5, orbicular or obovate, either yellow, white or red, color fades upon drying, ultimately turn cream to pale yellow.

[[File:Geum rivale 15-p.bot-geum.rivale-08.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Cross section of a ''Geum rivale'' flower]] A 2-6 mm hypanthium present, obconical or dome-shaped in shape, with a smooth or ribbed disc. Stamens numerous, [10–]25–120, shorter than petals. Carpels numerous, (2–)20–250(–450), free, slender, usually borne on cylindric receptacle. Ovule 1, ascending. Entire or jointed persistent filiform styles with deciduous distal portion; stigma recurved or hooked, or feathery, elongating to 10 mm, or not hooked and elongating to 70 mm.<ref name = "FloraChina"/> <ref name = "FloraNA"/> <ref>{{Cite book |last=Polunin |first=Oleg |title=Flowers of Europe: A Field Guide |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1969 |isbn=0-19-217621-8 }}</ref>

====Fruit==== [[File:Geum ovary crop.jpg|thumb|200px|''Geum vernum'' developing fruit]] thumb|right|200px|Fruit in Geum genus The plant produces aggregated achenes, (2–)20–250(–450), 2–4.5 mm long, hairy, and sometimes stipitate. <ref name = "FloraChina"/> <ref name = "FloraNA"/> Fruit in erect position, with a long beak bearing a hook at the tip. Dispersed by animals. <ref>{{Cite book |last1=Mossberg |first1=Bo |last2=Stenberg |first2=Lennart |title=Den nya nordiska floran |publisher=Bonnier Fakta |year=2010 |isbn=978-91-7424-095-5 |language=sv }}</ref>

==Distribution and ecology== Most of the species of the Geum genus occur in temperate and arctic-alpine regions, and several species are cultivated. Geum has a wide distribution mostly located in the northern hemisphere. They are native to Africa, North America, Mexico, South America, Eurasia, Pacific Islands (New Zealand), Australia. <ref name = "FloraNA"/> <ref name = "BritAc"/> Several Geum species prefer cooler climate and moist, well-drained soils, even though they are fairly tolerant of dry soils.<ref name = "NCGarden"/>¨

All countries where Geum species are present are listed on [https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30000428-2''Plant of the World Online'']

====Interspecific interactions==== Geum species are used as host plants by several insects, for instance species in the orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Host Results |website=Database of British and Irish Fungi |url=https://dbif.brc.ac.uk/hostsresults.aspx?hostid=2462 |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Geum |website=Vilkenart |url=https://www.vilkenart.se/Vardvaxt.aspx?Namn=Geum |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref> For instance, ''Geum urbanum'' is used as food by the larvae of the grizzled skipper ''Pyrgus malvae''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geum rivale (Water Avens) |website=Native Flower |url=https://www.nativeflower.co.uk/details.php?plant_url=342 |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref> as well as ''Stigmella splendidissimella'' and ''Stigmella pretiosa'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geum urbanum |website=Vilkenart |url=https://vilkenart.se/Vardvaxt.aspx?Namn=Geum%20urbanum |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref> while ''Geum rivale'' is host to ''Geina didactyla'' and ''Stigmella pretiosa'', among others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geum rivale |website=Vilkenart |url=https://www.vilkenart.se/DetaljOversikt.aspx?Mode=Plant&Namn=Geum%20rivale |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref>

thumb|200px|Bumblebee in ''Geum rivale''

Flowers of Geum species also attract bees.<ref name = "NCGarden"/> Since some Geum species flower in early spring, they are of great value to overwintered bumblebee queens, which are also important pollinators of the flowers. ''Geum triflorum'' is one Geum species important not only to bumblebees, but also to beetles, wasps and ants that visit the flowers for nectar. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Prairie Smoke |website=Xerces Society |url=https://xerces.org/blog/prairie-smoke |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref>

Several fungi lives on Geum species. The rost fungi ''Puccinia'' can be found on at least ''Geum reptans''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Helfer |first=Stephan |title=Overview of the rust fungi (Uredinales) occurring on Rosaceae in Europe |journal=Nova Hedwigia |volume=81 |issue=3–4 |pages=325–370 |year=2005 |doi=10.1127/0029-5035/2005/0081-0325 |bibcode=2005NovaH..81..325H |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233603125 |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref>, while 51 ascomycete fungi from the classes ''Sordariomycetes'', ''Leotiomycetes'', ''Dothideomycetes'' and ''Eurotiomycetes'' have been found on ''Geum peckii''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Adams |first1=Sarah J. |last2=Robicheau |first2=Brent M. |last3=LaRue |first3=Diane |last4=Browne |first4=Robin D. |last5=Walker |first5=Allison K. |title=Foliar Endophytic Fungi from the Endangered Eastern Mountain Avens (Geum peckii, Rosaceae) in Canada |journal=Plants |volume=10 |issue=5 |pages=1026 |year=2021 |doi=10.3390/plants10051026 |doi-access=free |pmid=34065394 |pmc=8161203 |bibcode=2021Plnts..10.1026A }}</ref>

Further, endosymbionts have been found in roots of Geum species. One example is the nitrogen-fixing bacteria genus ''Rhizobium'' <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Shi |first1=Xu |last2=Li |first2=Changfu |last3=Zhao |first3=Liang |last4=Si |first4=Meiru |last5=Zhu |first5=Lingfang |last6=Xin |first6=Kaiyun |last7=Chen |first7=Chaoqiong |last8=Wang |first8=Yao |last9=Shen |first9=Xihui |last10=Zhang |first10=Lei |title=Rhizobium gei sp. nov., a bacterial endophyte of Geum aleppicum |journal=International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology |volume=66 |issue=10 |pages=4282–4288 |year=2016 |doi=10.1099/ijsem.0.001348 |pmid=27474082 }}</ref> and the plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria ''Pseudarthrobacter sp.'' <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ham |first1=Seung Hee |last2=Yoon |first2=A Ra |last3=Oh |first3=Hyun Eui |last4=Park |first4=Yoo Gyeong |title=Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganism Pseudarthrobacter sp. NIBRBAC000502770 Enhances the Growth and Flavonoid Content of Geum aleppicum |journal=Microorganisms |volume=10 |issue=6 |article-number=1241 |year=2022 |doi=10.3390/microorganisms10061241 |doi-access=free |pmid=35744759 |pmc=9231079 |bibcode=2022Miorg..10.1241H }}</ref> that have been extracted from the roots of Geum aleppicum.

==Utility to humans== Geum is used as a ornemental plant, as its flowers resemble small roses, and it has been a recurring—although not among the most commonly cultivated—genus in flower beds and ornamental gardens.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hawke |first=Richard G. |title=A Comparative Evaluation Study of Geum spp. |journal=Plant Evaluation Notes |issue=41 |year=2017 |publisher=Chicago Botanic Garden }}</ref> The cultivar 'Mrs J. Bradshaw'<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant selector|url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/65802/Geum-Mrs-J-Bradshaw-(d)/Details |access-date=10 July 2020}}</ref> (with orange flowers) has the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 43 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 2 March 2018}}</ref>

The UK National Collection of geums is held at Brickwall Cottage Garden and Nursery in Frittenden, Kent.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.geumcollection.co.uk/index.html |title=Geum - The National Collection |year=2010 |publisher=geumcollection.co.uk/ |access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref>

Moreover, Geum has long held medicinal importance.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Fu |first1=Wen-Tao |last2=Zhang |first2=Zhi-Ping |last3=Guo |first3=Jia-Jie |last4=Wen |first4=Jun |last5=Li |first5=Qin-Qin |title=Comparative analyses of chloroplast genomes in Geum species: insights into genome characteristics, phylogenomic implications, and adaptive evolution |journal=Frontiers in Plant Science |year=2025 |volume=16 |article-number=1713809 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2025.1713809 |doi-access=free |pmid=41550344 |pmc=12809601 |bibcode=2025FrPS...1613809F }}</ref> Species within the genus have traditionally been used in folk medicine as anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, diuretic, and astringent remedies. Contemporary pharmacological research has supported several of these traditional uses. According to Mo et al. (2025), the high tannin content found in Geum species is associated with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, cardioprotective, and antiviral activities. <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mo |first1=Xiyan |last2=Zhou |first2=Yangkun |last3=Zhan |first3=Meng |last4=Zhang |first4=Ying |last5=Liu |first5=Jun |last6=Quang |first6=Hongfeng |last7=Dong |first7=Lin |title=A review of the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity for the genus Geum (Rosaceae) |journal=Fitoterapia |year=2025 |volume=180 |article-number=106333 |doi=10.1016/j.fitote.2024.106333 |pmid=39662633 }}</ref>

==Etymology and taxonomy== The name Geum has been found in literature dating back to AD 77. <ref name="w514">{{cite journal |last1=Smedmark |first1=Jenny E. E. |last2=Eriksson |first2=Torsten |title=Phylogenetic Relationships of Geum (Rosaceae) and Relatives Inferred from the nrITS and trnL-trnF Regions |journal=Systematic Botany |volume=27 |issue=2 |year=2002 |pages=303–317 |publisher=American Society of Plant Taxonomists |issn=0363-6445 |jstor=3093873 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3093873 |access-date=11 May 2026 }}</ref> The name ''Geum'' originates from the words ''geyo'' or ''geno'', which is latinized Greek for "taste" referencing the roots of the plant, which smell like cloves when crushed.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Coombes|first=Allen J.|title=The A to Z of plant names : a quick reference guide to 4000 garden plants|date=2012|publisher=Timber Press|isbn=978-1-60469-196-2|edition=1st|location=Portland, Or.|pages=154|oclc=741564356}}</ref><ref name = "NCGarden"/> <ref>{{Cite web |title=Geum rivale (Water Avens) |website=First Nature |url=https://www.first-nature.com/flowers/geum-rivale.php |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref>

====Taxonomic history of Geum==== <ref>{{cite web |title=Geum classification |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30000428-2#higher-classification |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=11 May 2026 }}</ref> The genus was first described by Gaspard Bauhin as ''Caryophyllata'' in 1623. <ref name="w514">{{cite journal |last1=Smedmark |first1=Jenny E. E. |last2=Eriksson |first2=Torsten |title=Phylogenetic Relationships of Geum (Rosaceae) and Relatives Inferred from the nrITS and trnL-trnF Regions |journal=Systematic Botany |volume=27 |issue=2 |year=2002 |pages=303–317 |publisher=American Society of Plant Taxonomists |issn=0363-6445 |jstor=3093873 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3093873 |access-date=11 May 2026 }}</ref> Carl Linnaeus later assigned the genus its current name, Geum, in Species Plantarum (1753).<ref>{{cite web |title=Geum genus |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30000428-2 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=11 May 2026 }}</ref> Over the past centuries, several scientists have changed the classification of the genus, included or removed species. These classifications were maily based on morphological features, primarily separating species due to deciduous or non-deciduous styles, or the presence of a fish-hook fruit type.<ref name="w514">{{cite journal |last1=Smedmark |first1=Jenny E. E. |last2=Eriksson |first2=Torsten |title=Phylogenetic Relationships of Geum (Rosaceae) and Relatives Inferred from the nrITS and trnL-trnF Regions |journal=Systematic Botany |volume=27 |issue=2 |year=2002 |pages=303–317 |publisher=American Society of Plant Taxonomists |issn=0363-6445 |jstor=3093873 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3093873 |access-date=11 May 2026 }}</ref> Some of the contributors were Scheutz (1870)<ref>{{cite book |last=Scheutz |first=N. J. |title=Monographiae Georum |publisher=Berlin |location=Uppsala |year=1870 |language=la }}</ref>, Focke (1894)<ref>{{cite book |last=Focke |first=W. O. |chapter=Rosaceae |editor-last=Engler |editor-first=A. |title=Die natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien |volume=3 |pages=1–61 |publisher=Wilhelm Engelmann |location=Leipzig |year=1894 |language=de }}</ref>, Greene (1899)<ref>{{cite book |last=Greene |first=E. L. |chapter=Segregates from Sieversia |title=Leaflets of Botanical Observation and Criticism |volume=1 |pages=174–179 |location=Washington, D.C. |year=1906 }}</ref>, Rydberg (1913)<ref>{{cite book |last=Rydberg |first=P. A. |chapter=Rosaceae |title=North American Flora |volume=22 |pages=389–480 |publisher=The New York Botanical Garden |location=New York |year=1913 }}</ref>, Hultén (1929)<ref>{{cite journal |last=Hultén |first=Eric |title=Flora of Kamtchatka and the Adjacent Islands, III |journal=Kungliga Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar |series=3 |volume=8 |issue=1 |year=1929 |pages=71–78 }}</ref> and Bolle (1933).<ref>{{cite book |last=Bolle |first=F. |title=Eine Übersicht über die Gattung Geum L. und die ihr nahestehenden Gattungen |series=Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis, Beihefte |volume=72 |publisher=Gebrüder Borntraeger |location=Berlin-Dahlem |year=1933 |language=de }}</ref>

Gajewski (1958) described the genus as a complex of polyploid species with high crossability between species, permitting the formation of numerous hybrids. Due to several different genome combinations, the genus was divided into distinct groups of species that differed in morphology and distribution, although all species were still classified within a single genus. Gajewski suggested that allopolyploidy has been a key factor affecting the speciation and evolution of the subgenus Geum, between the ancestors ''Waldsteinia'' and ''Geum montanum''. <ref name = "Gaj" >{{cite journal |last=Gajewski |first=W. |title=Evolution in the Genus Geum |journal=Evolution |volume=13 |issue=3 |year=1959 |pages=378–388 |doi=10.1111/j.1558-5646.1959.tb03024.x |bibcode=1959Evolu..13..378G |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1558-5646.1959.tb03024.x |access-date=11 May 2026 }}</ref>

The delimitation and classification of Geum have continued to change several times during the last decades. Still, ongoing genetic research results in changes in both species and genus levels. W. Gajewski (1958) described Geum as a genus within the tribe Geeae together with the closely related genera Waldsteinia and Coluria. The tribe Geeae formed the subfamily Dryadoideae together with Cercocarpeae and Dryadeae within the family Rosaceae. The number of chromosomes seemed to differ between groups, where the woody plants with wind-dispersal strategy had a basic chromosome number of 9, while the herbacious, more widley distributed and animal-disperse adapted species - including Geum species - instead had a basic chromosome number of 7. <ref name = "Gaj"/> In higher plants, the chromosome number of somatic cells is called the diploid number (“2n”), with one chromosome set inherited from each parent. This number varies widely between species, ranging from 2n = 4 to well over 200. The basic number of chromosomes in a haploid genome is described as ‘x,’.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Heslop-Harrison |first=J. S. |title=Plant Genomes |journal=Encyclopedia of Applied Plant Sciences |edition=2nd |volume=2 |pages=243–247 |year=2017 |publisher=Elsevier |doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-394807-6.00198-2 |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref>

This difference in basic chromosome number was further investigated by Wallaart (1980) that found a correlation between basic chromosome number of 9 and presence of sorbitol.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Wallaart |first=R. A. M. |title=Distribution of Sorbitol in Rosaceae |journal=Phytochemistry |volume=19 |year=1980 |issue=12 |pages=2603–2610 |doi=10.1016/S0031-9422(00)83927-8 |bibcode=1980PChem..19.2603W }}</ref> Hebda and Chinnappa (1994) could further support that theory by identifying the common characteristic of striate microperforate pollen in Geum, Coluria, Fallugia, Orthurus, and Waldstein - all containing a basic chromosome number of 7.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hebda |first1=R. J. |last2=Chinnappa |first2=C. C. |title=Studies on Pollen Morphology of Rosaceae |journal=Acta Botanica Gallica |volume=141 |year=1994 |issue=2 |pages=183–193 |doi=10.1080/12538078.1994.10515150 |bibcode=1994AcBG..141..183H }}</ref> In addition to that theory, Morgan et al. (1994) <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Morgan |first1=David R. |last2=Soltis |first2=Douglas E. |last3=Robertson |first3=Kenneth R. |title=Systematic and Evolutionary Implications of rbcL Sequence Variation in Rosaceae |journal=American Journal of Botany |volume=81 |issue=7 |year=1994 |pages=890–903 |publisher=Wiley |doi=10.1002/j.1537-2197.1994.tb15570.x |jstor=2445770 |bibcode=1994AmJB...81..890M |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2445770 |access-date=11 May 2026 }}</ref> added the presence of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules as a synapomorphy that divided species with 7 or 9 in basic chromosome number.

In recent molecular phylogenetic research, J. E. E. Smedmark et al. (2003) have tested the allopolyploidy hypothesis by Gajewski as well as explored the relationships within the group formerly known as Dryadeae, based on DNA sequences from chloroplast trnL-trnF region and ITS of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Their result does not support any of the previous circumscriptions of Geum as a monophyletic group or earlier suggested segregate genera, though some indications for allopolyploidy are found in the results. They suggest a delimitation of herbaceous perennials with a rosette of basal leaves in the tribe Colurieae as Geum in a broad sense <ref name="w514">{{cite journal |last1=Smedmark |first1=Jenny E. E. |last2=Eriksson |first2=Torsten |title=Phylogenetic Relationships of Geum (Rosaceae) and Relatives Inferred from the nrITS and trnL-trnF Regions |journal=Systematic Botany |volume=27 |issue=2 |year=2002 |pages=303–317 |publisher=American Society of Plant Taxonomists |issn=0363-6445 |jstor=3093873 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3093873 |access-date=11 May 2026 }}</ref>, which is supported by the comparative genomic analyses of Fu et al. (2025).<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Fu |first1=Wen-Tao |last2=Zhang |first2=Zhi-Ping |last3=Guo |first3=Jia-Jie |last4=Wen |first4=Jun |last5=Li |first5=Qin-Qin |title=Comparative analyses of chloroplast genomes in Geum species: insights into genome characteristics, phylogenomic implications, and adaptive evolution |journal=Frontiers in Plant Science |year=2025 |volume=16 |article-number=1713809 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2025.1713809 |doi-access=free |pmid=41550344 |pmc=12809601 |bibcode=2025FrPS...1613809F }}</ref>

====Current classification of Geum==== Geum belongs to the family Rosaceae, in the order Rosales. The closest related genera to Geum are Coluria, Fallugia and Waldsteinia.<ref name = "Kew class">{{Cite web |title=Geum L. |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30000428-2 |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref> It also belongs to the tribe Rosideae, formerly known as Dryadeae. Geum form this subfamily together with about 38 other generas, including for instance Alchemilla and Rosa (plant). Some species within the subfamily are shrubs but most of them are herbaceous perennials, most frequently occurring in the northern hemisphere. Though, no morphological synapomorphies have been identified for Dryadeae.

The discussion on what to include or not in the genus of Geum is ongoing but a key characteristic that are more or less agreed upon is the fish-hook fruit type that almost all species within the genus have in common, though Geum vernum is an exception.<ref name="w514">{{cite journal |last1=Smedmark |first1=Jenny E. E. |last2=Eriksson |first2=Torsten |title=Phylogenetic Relationships of Geum (Rosaceae) and Relatives Inferred from the nrITS and trnL-trnF Regions |journal=Systematic Botany |volume=27 |issue=2 |year=2002 |pages=303–317 |publisher=American Society of Plant Taxonomists |issn=0363-6445 |jstor=3093873 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3093873 |access-date=11 May 2026 }}</ref>

==Species list== {{As of|2026|May}}, Plants of the World Online <ref>{{cite web |title=Plants of the World Online |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/ |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=11 May 2026 }}</ref> accepted the following (46) species and (15) hybrids: * ''Geum aequilobatum'' K.M.Purohit & Panigrahi * ''Geum aleppicum'' Jacq. - Yellow avens or common avens * ''Geum andicola'' (Phil.) Reiche * ''Geum × aurantiacum'' Fr. ex Scheutz - Orange avens<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geum aurantiacum |website=Biogardens |url=https://biogardens.org/encyclopedia/geum-aurantiacum |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref> * ''Geum boliviense'' Focke * ''Geum brevicarpellatum'' F.Bolle * ''Geum bulgaricum'' Pančić * ''Geum calthifolium'' Sm. * ''Geum canadense'' Jacq. - White avens * ''Geum capense'' Thunb. * ''Geum × catlingii'' J.-P.Bernard & R.Gauthier - Catling's avens * ''Geum coccineum'' Sm. - Dwarf orange avens * ''Geum x convallis'' M.P.Wilcox * ''Geum x cortlandicum'' M.Hough - Cortland Avens<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geum aleppicum |website=Cortland Herbarium |url=https://webapp.cortland.edu/Herbarium/Herbarium_Specimen.aspx?speciesid=7041&specimenid=23493 |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref> * ''Geum elatum'' Wall. ex G.Don - High Avens<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geum elatum Wall. ex G.Don |website=India Biodiversity Portal |url=https://indiaflora-ces.iisc.ac.in/herbsheet.php?id=5347&cat=13 |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref> * ''Geum geniculatum'' Michx. - Bent avens * ''Geum glaciale'' Adams ex Fisch. - Glacier Avens<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geum glaberrimum |website=Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center |publisher=University of Texas at Austin |url=https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GEGL2 |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref> * ''Geum x gonzaloi'' J.L.Lozano & Serra * ''Geum × gudaricum'' Mateo & J.L.Lozano * ''Geum x hainesianum'' M.Hough, A.V.Gilman & Chapm.-Lam * ''Geum heterocarpum'' Boiss. * ''Geum hispidum'' Fr. * ''Geum × intermedium'' Ehrh. - Hybrid Avens<ref>{{Cite web |title=Water Avens |website=Irish Wildflowers |url=https://www.irishwildflowers.ie/pages/518a.html |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref> * ''Geum japonicum'' Thunb. - Asian herb bennet * ''Geum kokanicum'' Regel & Schmalh. * ''Geum laciniatum'' Murray – Rough avens * ''Geum latilobum'' Sommier & Levier * ''Geum × macneillii'' J.-P.Bernard & R.Gauthier * ''Geum × macranthum'' (Kearney ex Rydb.) B.Boivin * ''Geum macrophyllum'' Willd. - Largeleaf avens or large-leaved avens * ''Geum macrosepalum'' Ludlow * ''Geum magellanicum'' Comm. ex Pers. * ''Geum × meinshausenii'' Gams * ''Geum mexicanum'' Rydb. * ''Geum molle'' Vis. & Pančić * ''Geum montanum'' L. – Alpine avens * ''Geum peckii'' Pursh – Mountain avens or Peck's avens * ''Geum peruvianum'' Focke * ''Geum × pratense'' Pau * ''Geum × pulchrum'' Fernald * ''Geum pyrenaicum'' Mill. * ''Geum quellyon'' Sweet - Scarlet avens or Chilean avens * ''Geum radiatum'' Michx. – Spreading avens or Appalachian avens * ''Geum reptans'' L. – Creeping avens * ''Geum rhodopeum'' Stoj. & Stef. * ''Geum riojense'' F.Bolle * ''Geum rivale'' L. - Water avens or purple avens * ''Geum rossii'' (R.Br.) Ser. – Alpine avens * ''Geum roylei'' Wall. ex F.Bolle - Himalayan Avens<ref>{{Cite web |title=Himalayan Avens |website=Flowers of India |url=https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Himalayan%20Avens.html |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref> * ''Geum rubrum'' (Ludlow) Khuroo, K.Hussain & Gulzar - Red avens<ref>{{Cite web |title=Red Avens |website=Flowers of India |url=https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Red%20Avens.html |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref> * ''Geum schofieldii'' Calder & Roy L.Taylor Haida Gwaii avens<ref>{{Cite web |title=Species Summary: Geum aleppicum |website=British Columbia Species and Ecosystems Explorer |publisher=Government of British Columbia |url=https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/speciesSummary.do?id=18853 |access-date=2026-05-13 }}</ref> * ''Geum sikkimense'' Prain * ''Geum speciosum'' (Albov) Albov * ''Geum × spurium'' C.A.Mey. * ''Geum × sudeticum'' Tausch * ''Geum sunhangii'' D.G.Zhang, T.Deng, Z.Y.Lv & Z.M.Li * ''Geum sylvaticum'' Pourr. * ''Geum triflorum'' Pursh – Prairie smoke or three-flowered avens * ''Geum urbanum'' L. - Wood avens or herb Bennet * ''Geum vernum'' (Raf.) Torr. & A.Gray – Spring avens * ''Geum virginianum'' L. – Cream avens or Virginia avens

For a more detailed list see List of ''Geum'' species.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons}} * [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?6677,6727 Jepson Manual Treatment, University of California] * [http://ontariowildflowers.com/main/group.php?id=56 Ontario Wildflowers: Avenses Group]

Category:Geum Category:Rosaceae genera Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus