Pelargonium cucullatum flower

    Pelargonium cucullatum flower
    Author: Ivan Lätti
    Photographer: Uri Mitrani

    A Pelargonium cucullatum inflorescence is an umbel-shaped cluster of up to 13 two-lipped, pink-purple flowers. The five obovate, round-tipped petals overlap in the shallow bowl they form. The upper petal pair is bigger than the lower three. The lower parts of only the upper pair are marked by dark line patterns.

    The five recurving branches at the style tips are still visible in the photo above the petals. The earlier functioning stamens are gone by now or nearly so. This sequence of male parts functioning first, followed by the female ones is found in many pelargoniums. It serves to prevent self-pollination.

    The pollinator union has no reason to go on strike. Don't worry, they won't dream of it (Manning, 2009; iNaturalist).

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