Pelargonium desertorum bud

The sleek, narrow flower bud of Pelargonium desertorum is ellipsoid with acutely pointed tip. It may appear solitary or in umbel-like clusters of up to five, growing from the tip of a small, side-branch. A pair of narrow, pointed bracts are present on the stalk in the photo.

The small, upper leaves seen here have margins that are straight near the base, forming an obtuse angle where the stalk attaches. Higher up, the marginal serrations are uneven, angular to rounded and variable in size, with slight lobing.

Leaf veining is invisible or very close to that. Leaf stalks in picture are green, the hairy flower stalk orange brown (Williamson, 2010; iNaturalist; www.namibrand.com).