PELARGONIUM CAFFRUM

This member of the Geraniaceae family was given this name by Ernst Gottlieb von Steudel in 1841. It is found in southern South Africa, growing in a well drained soil with some water and lots of sun. The caudex can grow to four centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to 30 centimetres in height, 50 with the flowers which are from purplish over wine-red to almost black, and can have purple markings.

The genera name from Greek; pelargos; 'stork' for the ripening fruits, which resembles the bills of storks. The species name from Latin caffrorum referring to British Kaffraria, the name given to the area between the Kei and Keiskamma rivers in the latter half of the 19th century. A plant in culture by Edgar; Janedgar.net. Another plant in culture by Elena Ioganson. A leaf by Nanna Joubert, Inaturalist.org.