Pelargonium xerophyton
Pelargonium xerophyton Schltr. ex R.Knuth
Family: Geraniaceae
Common names: xerophyte pelargonium, desert geranium (Eng.)
Introduction
Pelargonium xerophyton is a hardy succulent with thick stems, twiggy branches, beautiful white flowers and aromatic foliage. Its distinctive growth habit and drought tolerance make it an interesting succulent bonsai subject and a fascinating addition to gardens and container plantings.
Description
Description
Pelargonium xerophyton is a small, shrubby, semi-deciduous succulent plant with a neat, compact shape. Typically growing to a height of 100–130 mm, it can reach up to 450 mm in favourable growing conditions. The plant has an upright habit, with profusely branched stems. The main stem (trunk) is robust and nearly woody, reaching a diameter of approximately 20 mm, and gives rise to smooth lateral branches. The branches are slender, 3–5 mm thick, with persistent petioles, and the internodes are typically only a few millimeters long. The leaves are a lovely light blue-green, rounded to heart shaped, leathery to fleshy, slightly toothed (dentate), crowded at the branch tips, and small, measuring about 10 mm in length. Leaves are smooth or very sparingly covered with hairs and are not distinctly marked. The leaves dry out in summer.
Flowers of this species are white, solitary or in pairs, at the tips of branches. Flowers exhibit a distinct irregular shape, characterized by the grouping of the petals into 2 upper and 3 lower. These petals are uniform in size and usually white with red or dark pink lines and blotches on the upper petals, although petal colour varies and shades of pink are observed. Flowers have seven fertile stamens, with orange anthers. Flowers have been recorded in every month of the year, but mostly in autumn, winter, spring and early summer, between March and November, with a peak in spring, October.
Conservation Status
Status
Least Concern (LC), Pelargonium xerophyton is neither threatened nor seen as a taxon of conservation concern. However, with the notable increase in succulent poaching it may become threatened in the near future.
Distribution and habitat
Distribution description
Namaqualand and the Richtersveld are home to this species, it grows in the north-western corner of South Africa as well as in the southern to central parts of Namibia, in a belt about 250 km wide along the coast. It is distributed across the desert and succulent shrubveld near the coast. This species occurs at altitudes of between 800 and 1 700 m, with rainfall less than 100 mm at the coast and 100–200 mm further inland, in winter. This species prefers barren habitats and grows amongst rocks on a variety of soil and rock types that include quartz, quartzite, granite and sandstone.
Derivation of name and historical aspects
History
The genus name originates from Johannes Burman (1707–1780), a Dutch physician and botanist, for whom Linnaeus worked in his early years. In 1738, Burman first used the name to describe some South African species of Geranium. The name was derived from the Greek word pelargós, meaning ‘stork’, because the seed looks like a stork’s beak. The specific epithet comes from the Greek words xeros, meaning ‘dry’ and phyton, meaning ‘plant’, reflecting the plant’s arid habitat and xerophytic nature.
The earliest herbarium record of this species is a collection by Rudolf Schlechter (1872–1925) made in September 1897 at I’US between Steinkopf and Wolftoon, in the Northern Cape. Schlechter recognized it as a previously unknown species and even designated the name Pelargonium xerophyton to it, but he never formally described the species. In 1912, Knuth formally described the species using the name chosen by Schlechter. Knuth’s description includes a detailed line drawing, which was later republished in Engler’s Pfanzewelt Afrikas 3(1):711 in 1915.
Ecology
Ecology
Pelargonium xerophyton flowers attract a diverse range of pollinators, primarily bees, bee flies, long-tongued flies, moths, and birds. Notably, the seeds of this species posses a feature of interest, each of the oval seeds produced is accompanied by a feathered tail-like structure which is coiled in a spiral arrangement. The tail enables dispersal as it causes the seeds to be picked up and carried by wind or with the movement of animals. In addition, when the seed lands on soil, the wind twists the tail around so that the seed drills itself into the soil in a typical screw-like fashion, which ensures that the seeds produced have a good chance of germination in the wild.
Pelargonium xerophyton is dormant in summer and survives the hot, dry summer months in the shelter of rocks. The thick, swollen stems and fleshy leaves are specialized to retain water, and serve as a vital survival feature in its arid habitat.
Uses
Use
Although Pelargonium xerophyton is not recorded as being used medicinally in Namaqualand, some species of Pelargonium and Monsonia are traditionally used to treat diarrhoea and dysentery, colic, women’s ailments, colds and tuberculosis, and it is possible that this species is similarly used.
Pelargonium xerophyton is an attractive ornamental plant with beautiful flowers and a compact habit. Being a desert-adapted succulent plant it is resilient and can thrive in dry conditions but is best suited to dry gardens in winter-rainfall climates, or containers where the growing conditions can be controlled.
Growing Pelargonium xerophyton
Grow
Pelargonium xerophyton can be propagated from both seed or by vegetative means. Stem cuttings are the most preferred method, pelargoniums propagated using this method usually flower within 3-6 months as compared to 12-18 months when sown from seeds. Cuttings may be taken all year round although they will root faster during summer and autumn. It is recommended to take cuttings from terminal growing points, although lower pieces of the stem may also be used. The selected mother plant for cuttings should be disease-free, cuttings should contain at least 3-5 leaf nodes and the basal end should be cut neatly just below a leaf node. The cuttings should be rooted in trays containing any available well-drained medium, preferably sand covered with a thin layer of milled bark and polystyrene (5 mm). A rooting hormone for semi-hardwood cuttings can be used to improve rooting. Pelargonium xerophyton requires a well-drained medium and must not be over-watered as they are prone to rot. It is advantageous to plant them shallowly in their growth medium with a layer of grit on the surface for support, this reduces the chances of rot at the soil surface. Cuttings should be watered only when they are completely dry, at all times of the year. The completed tray of cuttings should be watered with a general use fungicide that controls damping-off, after root formation, a feed with a liquid, seaweed-based fertiliser is recommended. Cuttings need to be potted on before the plants become root-bound and must be done with minimal root disturbance.
Seeds can be collected at the stage of natural dispersal when they are at full maturity. To obtain optimum germination, it is best to sow seeds when fresh, although they may remain viable for several years provided that appropriate post-harvest handling techniques are followed, and seeds are stored in a temperature regime of -20°C. A light well-drained soil with a high content of coarse sand is ideal for seed sowing. A 100 mm deep tray with numerous drainage holes in the base should be used for sowing seeds. Prior to filling the container with growing medium, place a layer of roughage, such as small rocks, gravel or bark pieces at the bottom, this process should be followed by firming down the soil and levelling off with a plank. Soil must be slightly moist and therefore, watering is recommended. Seeds should be broadcasted evenly and covered with a thin layer of clean white sand. Depth of sowing should be restricted to one and a half times the size of the seed. Moreover, water thoroughly using a fine hose at a low pressure to prevent soil and seed wash off.
Grow Pelargonium xerophyton in sun, semi-shade or light shade, in well-drained, sandy or gritty soil suitable for succulent plants. In dry, frost-free gardens it can be grown outdoors, best in a rockery. These plants are adapted to very nutrient-poor soil and dry conditions, and are prone to rotting when grown in wet, damp or humid conditions. Feed moderately with a fertilizer formulated for succulents. Take care not to overwater and protect from wet conditions. Keep dry in summer. Protect from frost.
References
- Botanikks. Pelargonium xerophyton. https://www.botanikks.com/plants/pelargonium-xerophyton-schltr-ex-rknuth/656800/1. Accessed on 2024/03/25.
- Desert-Tropicals.com. Pelargonium xerophyton. https://www.deserttropicals.com/plants/Geraniaceae/Pelargonium_xerophyton.html. Accessed on 2024/03/25.
- Knuth, R. 1912. Geraniaceae. In A. Engler (ed.), Das Pflanzenreich Regni vegetabilis conspectus Vol 4. Wilhelm Engelmann, Leipzig. Accessed via Biodiversity Heritage Library https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/68282#page/389/mode/1up.
- Maggs-Kölling, G. 2023. Observations of Pelargonium xerophyton, Karas Region, Namibia. iNaturalist. Online. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&taxon_id=591715&user_id=dune_ninja.
- May, L. 2000. Pelargonium cucullatum (L.) L’Hér. (Geraniaceae). PlantZAfrica. Online. http://pza.sanbi.org/pelargonium-cucullatum.
- Nortje, J.M. & Van Wyk, B.-E. 2019. Useful plants of Namaqualand, South Africa: A checklist and analysis. South African Journal of Botany 122:120-135.
- Powrie, F. 1998. Grow South African Plants. A gardener's companion to indigenous plants. National Botanical Institute, Cape Town.
- Raimondo, D., Von Staden, L., Foden, W., Victor, J.E., Helme, N.A., Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. & Manyama, P.A. (eds) 2009. Red list of South African plants. Strelitzia 25. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
- San Marcos Growers. Pelargonium xerophyton - Desert Geranium. https://www.smgrowers.com/products/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=4254. Accessed on 2024/03/21.
- Sonday, H. 2024-02. Observation of Pelargonium xerophyton, Namaqualand, Northern Cape. iNaturalist. Online. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202517777.
- The Encyclopedia of Succulents. Pelargonium xerophyton Schltr. ex R.Knuth. https://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/SUCCULENTS/Family/Geraniaceae/27705/Pelargonium_xerophyton. Accessed on 2024/03/20.
- Van Der Walt, J.J.A. & Vorster, P.J. 1988. Pelargoniums of southern Africa: including some representative species from other parts of the world. Vol. 3. National Botanic Gardens Kirstenbosch, Cape Town.
- Van Wyk, B.-E. 2008. A review of Khoi-San and Cape Dutch medical ethnobotany. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 119: 331–341.
- Webb, W.J. 1984. The Pelargonium family: the species of Pelargonium, Monsonia and Sarcacaulon. Croom Helm, London.
Credits
Sphephelo Kheswa
Millennium Seed Bank Partnership (MSBP)
June 2024
Acknowledgements: the author is extremely thankful to Gillian Maggs-Kölling aka dune ninja and Hafeez Sonday for providing images for the article via iNaturalist.
Plant Attributes:
Plant Type: Shrub, Succulent
SA Distribution: Northern Cape
Soil type: Sandy
Flowering season: Spring, Autumn, Winter
PH: Acid, Neutral
Flower colour: White, Pink
Aspect: Full Sun, Morning Sun (Semi Shade), Afternoon Sun (Semi Shade)
Gardening skill: Challenging
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