The Genus
Some History
The Sections
Campylia
Chorisma
Ciconium
Cortusina
Glaucophyllum
Hoarea
Isopetalum
Jenkinsonia
Ligularia
Myrrhidium
Otidia
Pelargonium
Peristera
Polyactium
Reniformia
Subsucculentia
Sectionless
Further Reading
Links & resources
S.
Afr. J. Bot. 58 (1992) 220.
Section Hoarea
Habit
Acaulescent geophyte.
Leaves
Lamina (10-)15-25 x (13-)18-27 mm, reniform, palmately veined. Apex rounded, margin deeply crenate, adaxially green, abaxially reddish purple, sparsely hirsute. Petiole 40-80 mm, rigid, spreading horizontally. Stipules narrowly triangular, adnate to petioles to 1/3 of their length.
Inflorescence
Branched, with 2 pseudo umbels, each with 3-7 flowers. Peduncles 25-75 mm, hirsute with distally appressed curly hairs interspersed with short glandular hairs, pedicel ~0.5 mm.
Sepals
5, lanceolate, recurved. Hypanthium 20-30 mm.
Petals
Petals pink to salmon pink with an orange blotch, patent during anthesis, posterior two obcordate, apices emarginate, 12-14 x 6.5-8 mm, anterior three spathulate, apices rounded, 11-14 x 2.5-3.5 mm.
Stamens
5 fertile, protruding from the flower, anthers pink, pollen orange.
Distribution
Habitat
A sunbathing P. nephrophyllum (just visible at the bottom of the image) beneath Giftberg. This is a very dry part of the country, receiving 100-200 mm rainfall only - perhaps this is why the tubers are very short and thick.
Landscape in full flower beneath Giftberg in August 2014, 10 km S of Vanrhynsdorp, W Cape Province. This is a remarkably calm spot along the busy N7, a walk followed by a pot of local rooibos is pure bliss.
In the fairly open shrubland, bulbs abound: here a flowering Babiana sp., but Albuca and Lachenalia species are very common as well.
Literature
E. M. Marais, Taxonomic Studies in Pelargonium, Section Hoarea (Geraniaceae), PhD Thesis, University of Stellenbosch, 1994.
Section Hoarea
Habit
Acaulescent geophyte.
Leaves
Lamina (10-)15-25 x (13-)18-27 mm, reniform, palmately veined. Apex rounded, margin deeply crenate, adaxially green, abaxially reddish purple, sparsely hirsute. Petiole 40-80 mm, rigid, spreading horizontally. Stipules narrowly triangular, adnate to petioles to 1/3 of their length.
Inflorescence
Branched, with 2 pseudo umbels, each with 3-7 flowers. Peduncles 25-75 mm, hirsute with distally appressed curly hairs interspersed with short glandular hairs, pedicel ~0.5 mm.
Sepals
5, lanceolate, recurved. Hypanthium 20-30 mm.
Petals
Petals pink to salmon pink with an orange blotch, patent during anthesis, posterior two obcordate, apices emarginate, 12-14 x 6.5-8 mm, anterior three spathulate, apices rounded, 11-14 x 2.5-3.5 mm.
Stamens
5 fertile, protruding from the flower, anthers pink, pollen orange.
Distribution
Habitat
A sunbathing P. nephrophyllum (just visible at the bottom of the image) beneath Giftberg. This is a very dry part of the country, receiving 100-200 mm rainfall only - perhaps this is why the tubers are very short and thick.
Landscape in full flower beneath Giftberg in August 2014, 10 km S of Vanrhynsdorp, W Cape Province. This is a remarkably calm spot along the busy N7, a walk followed by a pot of local rooibos is pure bliss.
In the fairly open shrubland, bulbs abound: here a flowering Babiana sp., but Albuca and Lachenalia species are very common as well.
Literature
E. M. Marais, Taxonomic Studies in Pelargonium, Section Hoarea (Geraniaceae), PhD Thesis, University of Stellenbosch, 1994.
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