Pelargonium elegans

Pelargonium elegans is a species of flowering plants in the family Geraniaceae.

Pelargonium elegans
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Geraniales
Family: Geraniaceae
Genus: Pelargonium
Species:
P. elegans
Binomial name
Pelargonium elegans
Synonyms
  • Campylia elegans Colv. ex Sweet, 1826[2][3]
  • Eumorpha elegans (Andrews) Eckl. & Zeyh., 1834-1835[4]
  • Geranium elegans Andrews, 1798[5]
  • Geraniospermum elegans (Andrews) Kuntze, 1891[6]
  • Pelargonium ovale subsp. ovatum Harv.

Taxonomy

Pelargonium elegans is included in section Campylia of subgenus Pelargonium.[7]

Description

The bloom's petals are pale pink to nearly white, with dark purple vertical lines on the two upper petals.

Distribution

The plant is endemic to South Africa.[8] It is found in Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces, from Hermanus to Stilbaai, and from Port Elizabeth to Grahamstown.

Its major habitats are coastal Fynbos.

Conservation

Because this species has lost coastal lowland subpopulations to urban development and competition from invasive species of plants, it is a Red List of South African Plants Least concern species. As of 2017, it is widespread over an estimated 49,000 square kilometres (12,000,000 acres), and is extant at more than 20 locations, but the population trend is decreasing.

Cultivation

Pelargonium elegans is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is an easy to grow plant in cultivation and can be grown outdoors if conditions are not freezing. As its natural habitat is dunes it is best suited for sandy soil.

References
  1. Willd., Sp. Pl. 3(1): 655. 1800
  2. Geraniaceae: The Natural Order of Gerania, Illustrated by Coloured Figures and Descriptions; Comprising the Numerous and Beautiful Mule-varieties Cultivated in the Gardens of Great Britain with Directions for their Treatments. Vol. III, Robert Sweet, 1824-1826, page 222
  3. Geraniaceae; or plants belonging to the family of Geranium. in "A catalogue of Plants sold by Colvill and Son, Nursery and Seedmen, King's Road, Chelsea, near London". Robert Sweet, 1821, ed. 2, page 21, col. 1
  4. Eckl. & Zeyh., Enum. Pl. Afric. Austral. 1: 77. 1834-1835
  5. Andrews, Bot. Repos. 1: t. 28. 1798
  6. Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 94. 1891
  7. A taxonomic revision of Pelargonium section Campylia (Geraniaceae). van der Walt J. J. A. and van Zyl. L., 1988, S. African J. Bot., 54 (2), pages 145–171
  8. List of species of southern African plants. Gibbs Russell, G. E., W. G. M. Welman, E. Retief, K. L. Immelman, G. Germishuizen, B. J. Pienaar, M. Van Wyk & A. Nicholas, 1987, Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa, 2(1–2), pages 1–152 (pt. 1 and 2)
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