Pelargonium klinghardtense new growth

Young stem-tip leaves and some flower buds are present on this Pelargonium klinghardtense plant early in August. The yellow-green buds with fleshy sepals flaunting marginal hairs were seen in Namaqualand.

The plant grows an inflorescence from a stem-tip or near it, comprising several pseudo-umbels on peduncles of 1,5 cm to 7,5 cm, each with two to six (occasionally more) flowers. Small leaves are present at the peduncle (flower stalk) base. The dull cream-green sepals are pointed and recurve a little.

Small, white, five-petalled flowers grow on pedicels of 1 cm to 2,5 cm. The posterior (upper) pair of petals are very slightly larger than the anterior (lower) three, none of the petals marked in any way. The posterior petals bend back slightly more than the anterior ones. There are five fertile stamens per flower on filaments of three lengths. The five-branched stigma is purple as are the chunky anthers that are also sometimes beige; the pollen orange. Flowering happens during winter and early spring.

The young leaves accompanying the buds have thick margins still being unpacked or stretched into proper leaf-shape from the angular lobes. Older leaves around the ones in picture are out of sight, tipping their long pale stalks that spread beyond the photo. Leaf undulations tend to calm down to a less busy appearance on older leaves, the marginal teeth increasing with age.

The faint, short hairiness of the leaves also occurs on their stalks as seen here, while even the smooth-looking stems of the plant are microscopically hairy (Frandsen, 2017; Le Roux, et al, 2005; www.pelargonium.si; http://llifle.com; www.bihrmann.com).