In previous issues of the newsletter we have shown the origin of the names of various species of Pelargonium.

So far we have covered the Sections Ciconium, Pelargonium and Reniformia. This month we will

cover the Section Polyactium and Section Cortusina. Several of the species included in these sections are

grown by our members and occasionally show up at the raffles and sales.

Pelargonium. anethifolium – having leaves that looks like dill (Anethum graveolens)

  P. bowkeri – named for the 19th Century South African soldier and naturalist, Henry Bowker, who collected 

  this species as well as many butterflies

leaf of P. bowkeri

P. caffrum – named for the locality Caffraria, i.e. South Africa  

P. gibbosum – gibbous referring to the swollen nodes on the stems of this species 

P. lobatum – lobed describing the shape of the leaves

P. luridum – dirty brown or smoky yellow referring to the flower color

P. multiradiatum – having many rays, that is, many stalks in the inflorescence

P. pulverulentum – referring to the powdery white color of the leaves

P. radulifolium – having leaves that are rough or rasping 

P. schizopetalum – split or deeply divided petals

P. triste – sad referring to the dull flower color

P. cortusifolium – having leaves like Cortusa (in the primrose family)

P. crassicaule – thick stem

P. desertorum – growing in the desert

  P. echinatum – spiny referring to the sharp, persistent stipules on the stem  

P. magenteum – bright pink or magenta in reference to the color of the flowers

P. sibthorpiifolium – having leaves that look like those of Sibthorpia (European moneywort in the Scrophulariaceae

      P. xythophyton - a plant of dry places.

                                                                                                                            November 2009