PELARGONIUM HYSTRIX

This member of the Geraniaceae family was described by William Henry Harvey in 1860. It is found in Ceres and Matjiesfontein Karoo, South Africa, growing in sand or other well drained soil with some water and lots of sun. The caudex will grow up to four centimetres in diameter. The flowers are white to crème coloured with red markings.

The genera name from Greek; pelargos; 'stork' for the ripening fruits, which resembles the bills of storks. The species name means 'porcupine', for barbed terminal spikelets. This is a winter-grower. Photo by Pete Liekkio. Photo by Vered A. Mann.