Pelargonium spinosum

Pelargonium spinosum is a caudiciform shrub that is spiny, deciduous and aromatic, reaching heights from 50 cm to 130 cm. The base of the main succulent stem becomes up to 5 cm in diameter. The mature plant reaches a rounded shape, sometimes becoming an imposing bush in its bare and arid habitat.

The inflorescence of P. spinosum is a pseudo-umbel comprising 3 to 10 flowers. The flowers are white with maroon-red markings on the tall, narrow posterior (upper) pair of petals only. Flower diameter is about 4,5 cm.

This Northern Cape species grows in Namaqualand and the Richtersveld, as well as in southern Namibia. The habitat is steep slopes in rocky soil, often in crevices or scattered in dry, sandy riverbeds and on rocky outcrops. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (www.bihrmann.com; www.pelargonium.si; www.redlist.sanbi.org).