Pelargonium crithmifolium covered in old flower stalks

There are flowers and fruits above the leaves of this Pelargonium crithmifolium plant. The overriding impression is, however, given by the spiky mesh of hardened inflorescence remains from previous seasons seen all over the plant.

These dry sticks probably deter browsers from eating the new leaves and flowers of this highly palatable plant too lustily. There are four to eight flowers in each umbel of the inflorescence. It is these stalks of the individual flowers that become the persistent parts (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; www.plantzafrica.com).