PELARGONIUM MAGENTEUM

This member of the Geraniaceae family was given this name by Johannes Jacobus Adriaan Van der Walt in 1980, replacing the older Pelargonium rhodanthum, which both Sweet and Schlecter used. It is found in south-western South Africa, growing in a well drained soil with some water and some to lot of sun. The caudex can grow to twelve or even fifteen centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to a meter and a half in height. The flowers are from almost white with a magenta centre to pure magenta.

The genera name from Greek; pelargos; 'stork' for the ripening fruits, which resembles the bills of storks. The species name referees to the colour of the flowers. This is a winter-grower. A seedling. Photo by Vered A. Mann.