PELARGONIUM PACHYPODIUM

This member of the Geraniaceae family was found by Michael Vassar (MV5851) and then described by Jacobus Petrus Roux in 2013. It is so fare only known from a single population at the foot of Keiskie Mountain southeast of Calvinia at 100-250 meters height, in western South Africa, growing in a well drained soil or grit with some water and lots of sun. The caudex can grow to four centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to 25 centimetres in height. The flowers are white to pale pink.

The genera name from Greek; pelargos; 'stork' for the ripening fruits, which resembles the bills of storks. The species name is from the Greek; pachys; 'thick', and podion; 'foot'. This is a winter-grower. Photo of another young plant by Vered A. Mann.