Pelargonium pulchellum

Pelargonium pulchellum, in Afrikaans commonly known as the asem-snak malva (gasp for breath pelargonium), is a low-growing herb with a woody stem base.

The plant produces erect flower stems up to 30 cm tall. Stem-tip clusters of white flowers are grown, five to twenty per pseudo-umbel or cluster. The two, slightly larger upper petals borne close together are obovate with rounded or notched tips, the three lower ones similarly shaped, angled away from each other.

Small, scarlet to maroon line markings or blotches are found near the petal bases, either on the upper or the lower petals but mostly on the lower, anterior three. The flower diameter is about 2,5 cm. Flowering happens from midwinter to midspring.

The species grows in Namaqualand from Garies to the Richtersveld, usually exposed on rocky outcrops and sandy slopes in granite derived soils. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Williamson, 2010; Le Roux, et al, 2005; Eliovson, 1990; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).