The name Pelargonium is derived from the Greek word pelargos, meaning ‘stork’, because the rostrum of the schizocarp in Pelargonium is thought to resemble the bill of a stork. This explains the common name, stork’s bill. The specific epithet incarnatum, which is Latin meaning ‘flesh pink’, is in reference to the colour of the petals.

The genus Pelargonium is one of 5 genera which constitute the pelargonium family or Geraniaceae. Pelargonium consists of approximately 250 species in southern Africa alone. Geraniaceae is a cosmopolitan family confined to temperate and tropical regions such as S, E and NE Africa, Australia, New Zealand, St Helena, Tristan da Cunha, Madagascar and Asia. Southern Africa, which is home to more than 80% of the species, is regarded as the global hotspot of Pelargonium. The highest diversity amongst members of this family is encountered in the Namaqualand region, and the western and southern Cape of South Africa.

Pelargonium incarnatum was previously classified as Erodium incarnatum and was considered the only indigenous Erodium species in South Africa. All other localized species of Erodium are of an exotic nature and deemed as weeds.

The genus Erodium, known as ‘heron’s bill’, is characterized by 5 free stamens, 5 free staminodes and 5 nectary glands, alternating with the bases of the petals. Most flowers of Erodium species are actinomorphic. Pelargonium incarnatum was initially placed in the genus Erodium based on its actinomorphic flowers and 5 fertile stamens, but this classification became doubtful when further studies revealed findings contrary to it being an Erodium.

Flowers of Pelargonium incarnatum have an actinomorphic appearance, but often 2 of the petals are smaller than the remaining 3. The pollen-producing part of the flower or the androecium is formed by 5 fertile stamens and 5 staminodes. The filaments are fused at the bases and form a staminal column. This staminal column is incongruous to Erodium. An additional outstanding aspect within the floral morphology, was that this species was found to be lacking the nectariferous glands on the receptacle, which is a trademark of Erodium species. Results from pollen studies also indicated that the pollen grains of this species differ from 7 other Erodium species and is instead almost identical to that of Pelargonium tricolor.

A natural hybrid between Pelargonium incarnatum and P. patulum was collected near Grabouw, where the parent species grow together. The corolla of this hybrid possesses the typical colour and markings of P. incarnatum, but the petals were found to be grouped into 2 posterior and 3 anterior ones, resulting in flowers with a zygomorphic appearance. The leaves of this hybrid resemble those of P. patulum. Given the fact that intergeneric hybrids are such a rarity, this discovery of a natural hybrid between P. incarnatum and P. patulum provided the final proof that P. incarnatum belongs in the genus Pelargonium.

This species is placed in the section Campylia which consists of 8 species, and includes Pelargonium elegans, P. ovale, P. tricolor and P. violareum. Species of this group are small with short and erect stems.