Pelargonium crithmifolium in shale

The shiny stem and succulent leaves of this Pelargonium crithmifolium gainsay the harsh conditions prevailing in its natural place in the world. The plant was seen in habitat during May after early winter rain in the Karoo National Park near Beaufort West.  

A plant like this may become about forty years old, maybe not quite in all parts of its natural habitat. It survives where the annual rainfall is as little as 80 mm. The built-in moisture reservoir in its thick caudex does much for the plants wellbeing in the Karoo.

This Pelargonium has been in cultivation in England since the end of the eighteenth century. No reason why more South Africans shouldnt look for one of these in a nursery for the garden or a container, but not from the veld (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; www.plantzafrica.com).