Fynbos Friday 18: Pelargonium Scabrum
05th March 2010, (0 Comments)
This water-wise, attractive and fragrant shrub makes an interesting garden subject and is ideal for those sunny and slightly drier spots in the garden.
I have found some evidence that notes this plant is also called the Apricot Scented Geranium. Beyond being lovely to look at, as with all Fynbos, its functional and provides a great service to the earth around it.
Description
Pelargonium scabrum is an erect, branched shrub, up to 1.2 m, with rough, hairy, 3-lobed leaves. The leaves are lemon-scented and up to 50 mm in diameter. Clusters of white to pink flowers up to 20 mm in diameter are borne from August to January (late winter to summer). The floral tube is 3–12 mm long. The seed is produced in autumn.
Distribution and habitat
Pelargonium scabrum grows on rocky, sandstone slopes, usually in dry habitats. It occurs from Springbok in Namaqualand, along the western coastal region, southwards to Western Cape and to Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape.
Derivation of name and historical aspects
The name Pelargonium is derived from the Greek word, pelargos, which means stork. This is due to part of the flower looking like a stork’s beak. The genus name, Geranium or Pelargonium was introduced in 1738 by Johannes Burman, a Dutch botanist and physician.
There are ± 200 species of Pelargonium. Often, pelargoniums are incorrectly named Geranium, which is the botanical name for a separate genus also belonging to the family Geraniaceae which is comprised of Pelargonium, Geranium, Erodium, Monsonia and Sarcocaulon. The confusion began when all the Pelargonium species were included in one genus, Geranium. In 1789, they were separated into two genera by Charles L’Héritier who was an 18th century French botanist.
The species name scabrum, is derived from the Latin word, scaber, which means scabrous. This name refers to the leaves and stems which are rough. Pelargonium scabrum was originally named Geranium scabrum by Johannes Burman (1759).
Ecology
Pelargonium seed is light in weight and has a feathered tail which is coiled into a spiral. It is adapted to wind dispersal and when it lands on soft soil, the tail causes the seed to twist into the soil thereby anchoring the seed in the ground and preventing it from being blown away. When the rain begins in the autumn, the seed germinates.
Uses and cultural aspects
Although Pelargonium scabrum is one of the scented pelargoniums, no cultural uses have been recorded. Horticulturally, this fragrant and attractive shrub is ideal for the drier garden and will do well in a sunny position.



