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Pelargonium alternans Wendl. | |
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Key
to subspecies:
1a. Lamina more or less as long as petiole or shorter. Pseudo-umbels per inflorescence 1-2. Pelargonium alternans ssp. parviinflorescens M. Becker & F. Albers Pseudo-umbels of 1-3 flowers. Hypanthium 3-9 mm, petals auricled. Posterior petals recurved close to the tip. Schumannia 6 (2010) 59-68 1b. Lamina conspicuously longer than petiole. Pseudo-umbels per inflorescence at least 3. 2a. Pseudo-umbels of at least 3 flowers. Hypanthium 3-9 mm, petals auricled. Pelargonium alternans ssp. alternans Wendl. Hort. Herrenh. 1, t. 10 (1798/88?) 14. 2b. Pseudo-umbels of 1-3 flowers. Hypanthium usually conspicuously longer than 10 mm, petals not auricled. Pelargonium alternans ssp. longicalcar M. Becker & F. Albers Schumannia 6 (2010) 59-68 Section Otidia Habit Succulent, zig-zag shaped and conspicuously branched shrub up to 40 cm high. Bark brown to grey, smooth. Stems microscopically pubescent. ![]() Leaves Leaves pinnately compound, conspicuously hirsute with glandular hairs interspersed, lamina oblong, 20-60x10-20 mm, pinnae with rounded apices, stipules triangular, 1x1-1.5 mm, initially persistent, finaly deciduous. ![]() P. alternans ssp. parviinflorescens Inflorescence Unbranched, with smaller foliar leaves, bearing pseudoumbels with 1-6 flowers. Peduncle 1.8-5 mm. ![]() P. alternans ssp. parviinflorescens. P. alternans ssp. longicalcar. Sepals 5, lanceolate, 1.5-2x7 mm, reflexed. Hypanthium 5-20 mm. Petals White to pinkish, posterior narrowly obovate to oblong, cca. 8-15 x 1.5-2.5 mm, reflexed, auriculate or not, with or without markings, anterior spathulate, slightly shorter, reflexed at less than 90o, with or without markings. Stamens 5 fertile, equal in legth. Distribution ![]() Circles: P. alternans ssp. alternans Triangle: P. alternans ssp. parviinflorescens Square: P. alternans ssp. longicalcar Habitat ![]() If P. alternans has the luxury to grow freely then it develops into a rather straggly shrub reminiscent of some greenhouse grown plants. The plant above is a rare sight: a fairly old and ungrazed P. alternans ssp. alternans at Boschkloof near Citrusdal, W Cape, neighbour to P. ellaphieae. ![]() In the original publication, the distribution of P. alternans ssp. parviinflorescens is described as limited to Pakhuis Pass. Here is a plant from Oorlogskloof close to Nieuwoudtville, which is 50 km N of the type location, meaning that the subspecies must have a broader distribution in the N Cedarberge and the Bokkeveld escarpment. ![]() With the growth form very similar to the type subspecies, P. alternans ssp. longicalcar is distributed in the extreme SE area of the distribution of the species as a whole: Anysberg, Outenikwa Mts and the Groot Swartberge. Here a plant from Rooinek Pass with the most typical habit of the species, abundantly 'pruned' by livestock. The bonsai quality of these plants is in a stark contrast to the plant from Boschkloof shown above. Synonyms alternatim-pinnatum Wendl. ex Steud. coralinum (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Steud. microphyllum (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Steud. Literature Becker M., Albers F. (2010) Acknowledgement With grateful thanks to Dr M Becker for discussions of this species. |
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