Pelargonium caucalifolium subsp. caucalifolium leaves

Pelargonium caucalifolium subsp. caucalifolium is a low-growing, sprawling perennial growing to 30 cm in height.

The leaves are deeply divided into small, narrow lobes, in picture the incisions are so deep that the leaves appear pinnate with winged rachises. The specific (and subspecific) name, caucalifolium means leaves like Caucalis, a plant related to the carrot.

The distribution is in the southern Cape, parts of both Western and Eastern Cape. The plants occur on both sides of the southerly mountain ranges, from Swellendam eastwards and across the mountains to the Baviaanskloof. This plant was photographed in the Bo-Kouga southeast of Uniondale.

A second subspecies, viz. subsp. convolvulifolium grows along the western Cape coast between Bredasdorp and Mossel Bay. Neither subspecies is considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (iSpot; www.geraniumsonline.com; www.redlist.sanbi.org).