Restricted plant view
Pelargonium betulinum (L.) L'Herit.
| It is a small upright or sprawling, bushy, herbaceous shrublet with woody branches, growing 0.3 -1.3 m tall in the wild but in cultivation usually reaching a height of around 0.5 -0.75 m with an equal spread. The leaves are small, 1 -3 cm long by 0.7 -2.5 cm broad, oval or ovate in shape, and are carried on ±1 cm long petioles. The leaf blades are somewhat hard and leathery, are either almost hairless or covered in fine short hairs, and have a serrated margin of red -tipped teeth. The flowers are large and attractive, making this plant very conspicuous when it is in flower. The inflorescence is umbel-like, usually consisting of three to four flowers, occasionally of up to six. Flower colour is variable, pink and purplish flowers being most commonly seen in the wild, and there is also a white form. All flowers have dark purplish streaks on the petals, particularly on the two upper petals. The seed is adapted to wind -dispersal, is light in weight and has a feathered tail which is coiled into a spiral. 1 |
| References: 1 South African National Biodiversity Institute: Pelargonium betulinum |