Geranium drakensbergensis

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Geranium drakensbergensis Hilliard & B.L.Burtt

Family: Geraniaceae

Common names: Drakensberg cranesbill

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Introduction

An attractive, floriferous and vigorous herbaceous perennial that makes a wonderful addition to a summer perennial border.

Geranium drakensbergensis

Description

Geranium drakensbergensis is an evergreen perennial herb with a neat spreading and slightly mounding, clump-forming habit. The leaves are a fresh green. Almost the entire plant is thinly covered with fine hairs which face backwards and are pressed flat to the surface. The leaf can be divided from its centre into 3-5 deeply incised diamond-shaped segments.

Leaves

The flower is typical of Geranium species, a simple cup-shaped structure with five mauve petals. Flowers appear year round, with peak flowering during summer. Seeds are dispersed from an elongated projection, commonly known as the beak. This is a fast growing herb.

Conservation Status

Status

The Drakensberg cranesbill is Red Listed as Rare, as it requires a specialist habitat in its natural distribution and is only known from six subpopulations. These populations are stable and not threatened.

Distribution and habitat

Distribution description

It occurs at altitude of 1220-2745 m, in KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg Mountains and prefers permanently moist conditions, such as the base of rock outcrops and beside streams.

Derivation of name and historical aspects

History

The genus Geranium with its very distinct fruiting body, which resembles a long crane beak, get its name from the Greek word, geranos which refers to cranes.

The type specimen of Geranium drakensbergensis was collected by Olive Mary Hilliard and Brian Laurence Burtt (1913-2008) on 22 November 1976.

Hilliard is a notable South African botanist and taxonomist and Burtt an acclaimed English botanist and taxonomist. They met in 1964 when Burtt travelled to South Africa to collect and study Streptocarpus, and formed a collaborative and very prosperous botanical partnership for 44 years with many combined publications. After the death of his wife in 2004, Burtt married Hilliard at the age of 91.

Ecology

Cranesbills have a fascinating means of dispersing their seed. The elongated projection, which grows up from the centre of the style during the formation of fruit, elongates and eventually houses the seed in tiny catapults that have their tails attached to the beak. Once the seeds are ripe, the beak dries out and, if brushed against or dry enough, the tails curl outwards and with a flip fling the seeds a distance away.

Uses

Use

Geraniums have long been used as ornamental bedding plants. In general they are easy to propagate and grow. Geranium drakensbergensis makes a wonderful border bedding plant in light shade or full sun, but requires regular watering. A planting of geraniums will attract many beneficial pollinating insects such as bees. Some species also have medicinal properties.

In flower

Growing Geranium drakensbergensis

Grow

Geraniums are fairly easy to propagate and will root from tip or stem cuttings in warmer weather, although they can be propagated throughout the year.

Sow seeds in a well-drained sandy mix in spring or summer. They germinate without much difficulty. A growth medium of well-drained sandy loam or compost rich soil produces lush, vigorous plants. They can be grown in pots or hanging baskets for a season, but quickly outgrow them and will require potting on and regular foliar feeding in order to flower well.

Few pests or disease are ever noticed on Geranium drakensbergensis .

References

Anonymus. 2008. Obituaries: B. L. Burtt, Plant taxonomist. The Independent . 13 June 2008. (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/b-l-burtt-plant-taxonomist-846272.html)
Hilliard, O.M. & Burtt, B.L. 1985. A Revision of Geranium in Africa South of the Limpopo. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 42(2): xx-xx .
http://redlist.sanbi.org/

Credits

Monique McQuillan
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
March 2014

Plant Attributes:

Plant Type: Perennial

SA Distribution: KwaZulu-Natal

Soil type: Sandy, Clay, Loam

Flowering season: Early Summer, Late Summer, Sporadic/All year

PH: Acid, Neutral

Flower colour: Purple, Mauve/Lilac

Aspect: Full Sun, Morning Sun (Semi Shade), Afternoon Sun (Semi Shade)

Gardening skill: Easy

Special Features:

Drought resistant

Good potplant

Feeds honeybees

Wet sites

Geranium drakensbergensis