Pelargonium klinghardtense, dikstingelmalva

Pelargonium klinghardtense, in Afrikaans commonly known as the dikstingelmalva (thick stalk pelargonium), grows thick, succulent stems. They are smooth and light-coloured in shades of yellow, brown and olive.

The blue-grey to whitish leaves are similarly pale-coloured, appropriate attire for those preferring to reflect heat rather than absorb it in the hot summer climate of the semi-desert. The leaf has a fairly straight, rigid midrib, grooved near its base and contrasting against all the pleating and undulation going on in the lateral blade parts.

The leaves disappear from the plant seasonally during the hot, dry months, leaving the bare stems to endure by themselves until a new winter’s growth brings scanty cover for their smoothness (Frandsen, 2017; Le Roux, et al, 2005; www.pelargonium.si; http://llifle.com; www.bihrmann.com).