PELARGONIUM SPINOSUM

This member of the Geraniaceae family was given this name by Carl Ludwig von Willdenow in 1800. It is found in on both sides of the South African - Namibian border, growing in a real well drained soil with not that much water and some to lots of sun. The stem can grow to five centimetres in diameter, the entire plant from 50 to 130 or even 200 centimetres in height. The flowers are white with red markings.

The genera name from Greek; pelargos; 'stork' for the ripening fruits, which resembles the bills of storks. The species name referring to the leaf petioles which harden and become spiny. It might help the plant harvesting the morning drew, supplementing the 200 millimetres of annual rain. This is a winter-grower, flowering late in the growing season.