Pelargonium leipoldtii flowers and buds

The inflorescence of Pelargonium leipoldtii comprises a few umbels on long, branched stalks. In picture the top umbel is all about the anthers on filaments that curve up abruptly near their tips. Lower down it is all still promise in densely clustered buds.

These flowers do not count among the spectacular or famous of their genus. They compensate, both in number per umbel and capacity in harsher environments, outperforming their big-petalled, brighter coloured counterparts of lush settings.

The greenness in bud and flower shown here is often reduced, the environment imposing stress-induced, purplish grey discoloration on the plant from temperature excesses and aridity, even at bloomtime (Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist).