PELARGONIUM AURITUM

This member of the Geraniaceae family was given this name by Carl Ludwig von Willdenow in 1800. It is found on the southern coast of South Africa, growing in well-drained soil with some water and sun. The caudex can grow to three and a half centimetre in diameter and the plant will grow up to fifteen centimetres. The flowers are from P. a. carneum' s white with pink markings to P. a. auritum' s dark purple with black markings. The genera name from Greek; pelargos; 'stork' for the ripening fruits, which resembles the bills of storks. The species name means 'having large ears, long-eared' for the leaves. The leave form changes a lot, and different forms can be fond on a single plant. All from single leaves to complex as seen on the drawings below. This occurs in both variations, and it is the colour of the flower; petals, that makes the different: Pelargonium auritum var. auritum is found in Western Cape, and its petals are dark purple to black. Pelargonium auritum var. carneum is found in Eastern Cape, and the petals are white to pale pink. They meet around Port Elizabeth. This is a winter-grower. The flowers by Vered A. Mann. Pelargonium auritum var. auritum The flowers by Vered A. Mann. First year P. a. var. a flowered, the flowers were significantly lighter in colour. My humble P. auritum var. carneum, suffering from the lack of dissent sunlight.