Pelargonium tomentosum Jacq.
LC Indigenous Endemic

Morphological description

Decumbent, much-branched, peppermint-scented subshrub, up to 0.5 m high and 1.5 m in diameter. Stems herbaceous and brittle, becoming somewhat woody with age, villous and densely interspersed with glandular hairs, greyish-green but becoming brownish with age. Leaves with soft hairs and numerous glandular hairs interspersed, greyish-green; lamina 3-(5)-palmatilobate to 3-(5)-palmatipartite, base cordate, apices of lobes mostly obtuse (rarely acute), margins irregularly crenate-serrate, adaxially villous, abaxially tomentose, (25-)40-60(-110) x (35-)50-70(-120) mm; petiole (30-)80-130(-180) mm long; stipules triangular to ovate, acute to acuminate, 6-20 x 4-12 mm. Inflorescence: flowering branches profusely branched, with or without smaller foliar leaves; peduncles 30-150 mm long, villous and densely interspersed with glandular hairs; involucral bracts narrowly ovate to lanceolate, acuminate, indumentum as on peduncles, 4-5 x 1-2 mm; pseudo-umbels with 4-15 flowers each. Pedicel 18-20 mm long, indumentum as on peduncles. Hypanthium ±2 mm long. Sepals elliptic to lanceolate, indumentum abaxially as on peduncles, green with white margins, ±6 x 2-3,5 mm. Petals white with purple markings; posterior two elliptic to obovate with eared bases, reflexed at ±90°, ±9 x 5 mm; anterior three linear-spathulate with very narrow claws practically straight, ±11 x 1.5 mm. From: Van der Walt, JJA. 1985. A taxonomic revision of the type section of Pelargonium L'Hérit. (Geraniaceae). Bothalia 15(3 & 4): 345-385. [CC BY]

Sprawling aromatic shrub to 50 cm. Leaves 3-5-palmatilobed, soft, velvety, ± 7 cm diam. Flowers to 15 on branching peduncles, ± 18 mm diam., white, upper petals several times wider; hypanthium ± 2 mm long, much shorter than pedicel. From: Vorster, PJ. 2012. Geraniaceae: Pelargonium L'Hér. In: J Manning & P Goldblatt (eds), Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape flora. Strelitzia 29: 587-598. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY]

Diagnostic description

Decumbent, much-branched, peppermint-scented subshrub. Lamina 3-(5)-palmatilobate to 3-(5)-palmatipartite, adaxially villous, abaxially tomentose. Flowering branches profusely branched. Pseudo-umbels with 4-15 flowers each. Flowers white, posterior petals auriculate, anterior petals longer and much narrower than posterior ones, pedicel much longer than hypanthium. The species may be confused with P. papilionaceum (L.) L'Herit. when they are not in flower. The main differences between these two related species are as follow: P. tomentosum - 1. Leaves villous and tomentose. 2. Leaves peppermint-scented. 3. Flowers white. 4. Posterior petals shorter than anterior petals. P. papilionaceum - 1. Leaves sparsely villous. 2. Leaves with an unpleasant odour. 3. Flowers light pink to carmine. 4. Posterior petals longer than anterior petals. From: Van der Walt, JJA. 1985. A taxonomic revision of the type section of Pelargonium L'Hérit. (Geraniaceae). Bothalia 15(3 & 4): 345-385. [CC BY]

Habitat

P. tomentosum is confined to mountains where it occurs in semi-shaded, moist habitats. It is usually found on the margins of ravine forests near streams, where it grows in sandy soil derived from sandstone. From: Van der Walt, JJA. 1985. A taxonomic revision of the type section of Pelargonium L'Hérit. (Geraniaceae). Bothalia 15(3 & 4): 345-385. [CC BY]

Forest margins in mountains. From: Vorster, PJ. 2012. Geraniaceae: Pelargonium L'Hér. In: J Manning & P Goldblatt (eds), Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape flora. Strelitzia 29: 587-598. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY]

Distribution

So far P. tomentosum has been collected on the Hottentots Holland Mountains near Somerset West, on the Riviersonderend Mountains near Greyton, and on the Langeberg range from Swellendam to Riversdale. It is rare on the Hottentots Holland Mountains but abundant on the Langeberg range, especially near Swellendam. From: Van der Walt, JJA. 1985. A taxonomic revision of the type section of Pelargonium L'Hérit. (Geraniaceae). Bothalia 15(3 & 4): 345-385. [CC BY]

Somerset West to Langeberg. From: Vorster, PJ. 2012. Geraniaceae: Pelargonium L'Hér. In: J Manning & P Goldblatt (eds), Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape flora. Strelitzia 29: 587-598. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. [CC BY]

Flowering time

October to January

Altitude

122 to 1220 m

Occurrence records map

This map contains point-based occurrences at different locations

iNaturalist: BODATSA: Data partners records:

Residence status

Occurrence in the Flora of Southern Africa (FSA) countries and South African provinces. Residence status indicates if a taxon is indigenous, endemic, naturalised or invasive in a specific region. This data is based on specimen records and literature

FSA

SA

BOT

NAM

ESW

LES

WC

EC

NC

FS

GA

KZN

LP

MP

NW

Absent

Indigenous

Endemic

Naturalised

Invasive

https://seis-sanbi.azureedge.net/anura/default/asset.do?preview=208152

Names and Sources

Accepted name
Pelargonium tomentosum Jacq.
Synonym(s)

Classification

KINGDOM Plantae

SUBKINGDOM Phanerogamae

SPECIES tomentosum

14 results for Pelargonium tomentosum Jacq.

Specimen records

Barcode: PRE0736506-0 Collector(s) & number: McDonald, DJ, 1544 | 1987-12-1

South Africa, Western Cape, BOOSMANSBOS WILD.; LANGEBERG; AREA EDGE OF BAREND KOEN RD. OVERLOOKING PLATBOSRIVIERSKLOOF AT BASE OF OUTCROP.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0437566-0 Collector(s) & number: Marloth, HWR, 3512 | 1904-2-

South Africa, Western Cape, SWELLENDAM DIV.; GROOTVADERSBOSCH

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: NBG0169908-0 Collector(s) & number: Strid, PAK, 37935 | 1993-9-18

South Africa, Western Cape, Heidelberg Div. Langebergen, S side, Boosmansbos Wilderness Area N of Grootvadersbosch.

General notes: Fynbos over sandstone. Subshrub c. 50cm tall, in damp places. Plant with pleasant lemon-like scent. Petals pink with purple markings.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0795671-0 Collector(s) & number: Vlok, JHJ, 2052 | 1988-11-10

South Africa, Western Cape, Langeberg Mountains, next to forestry track to Helderfontein.

General notes: Det: L. Dreyer

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Observation records

Date: 10/9/2010 12:00:00 AM

Western Cape

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 12/15/2013 12:00:00 AM

Western Cape

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 1/2/2015 12:00:00 AM

Western Cape, South Africa

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 7/14/2021 3:21:30 PM

Western Cape

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 10/23/2021 8:45:00 AM

Western Cape, South Africa

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 11/2/2021 12:50:00 PM

Western Cape

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 3/21/2016 12:00:00 AM

Western Cape, South Africa

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 12/17/2012 12:00:00 AM

Western Cape, South Africa

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 4/25/2020 8:38:00 AM

Western Cape, South Africa

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Date: 10/2/2022 8:21:02 AM

Western Cape

Data Resource: iNaturalist View record

Plant occurence records per dataset

Plant occurence records per year

Occurrence records map

This map contains point-based occurrences at different locations

iNaturalist: BODATSA: Data partners records:

2012

SERIES CHAPTER

Geraniaceae: Pelargonium L'Hér. Vorster, PJ

In: J Manning & P Goldblatt (eds), Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape flora. Strelitzia 29: 587-598

South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria

1985

PERIODICAL/JOURNAL

A taxonomic revision of the type section of Pelargonium L'Hérit. (Geraniaceae) Van der Walt, JJA

Bothalia 15(3 & 4)345-385

No results found for Pelargonium tomentosum Jacq.

Status

Status and criteria

LC

Assessor(s)

Plantae Coordinator

Part(s) of plant used Use(s) Reference

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