Pelargonium bowkeri flower

The zygomorphic or laterally symmetrical flower of Pelargonium bowkeri has five petals in two groups, all dominated by long, narrow lobes at their tips.

These petal lobes are about straight and thread-like; brick-red to purplish brown on the plant in picture. The much-lobed petals may also be pale cream or yellowish green marked by purple veins. The basal parts of particularly the upper pair of petals lack the colouring.

Conspicuous yellow anthers on white filaments cohere among the petals, lower than their tips.

The hairy green sepals at the back recurve, their tips against the yellow peduncle that is also hairy.

The photo was taken near Oudtshoorn (Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist; www2.arnes.si).