Pelargonium crithmifolium

Pelargonium crithmifolium has thick, knobbly succulent stems and deeply divided, lobed leaves that suggest arid habitat. There is a yellowish smooth and peeling bark on the stems.

The plant grows to 1 m, in some harsher regions only to half that. The white flowers are 1,5 cm in diameter, with short pink or red lines at the bases of the upper pair of petals. The flowers grow on a long stalks and notable calyx tubes. The flowering season extends beyond the wet winter.

The plant’s water conservation capacity equips it for life in its geographical distribution ranging across Namibia, the Richtersveld, Namaqualand, the western Karoo and Little Karoo… harsh climate regions that can cause stress in those that live there by inflicting drought and temperature extremes. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Le Roux, et al, 2005; http://redlist.sanbi.org).