Pelargonium longicaule

Pelargonium longicaule, in Afrikaans commonly known as the rankmalva (creeping pelargonium), is a soft shrublet reaching heights around 50 cm. P. longicaule and P. myrrhifolium are similar.

There are two varieties of P. longicaule. The common one, var. longicaule, is found in the Western Cape from the Olifants River mouth and the Gifberg to Stilbaai and Albertinia, growing in fynbos, among rocks and sandy flats. It is of least concern in survival terms.

The other, var. angustipetalum, is range restricted near Piketberg and vulnerable due to farming in its habitat. Although this plant was photographed on the Piketberg Mountain, it is thought to be the common one (Manning, 2007; Manning and Goldblatt, 1996; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; www.fernkloof.org.za; http://redlist.sanbi.org).