Pelargonium peltatum
Encyclopedia
Pelargonium peltatum is a species of geranium
known by the common names ivy-leaf geranium and cascading geranium. It is native to southern Africa, particularly South Africa
. It is commonly grown as an ornamental plant
. This is a subshrub
which can reach two meters in height, its branches prostrate, spreading, trailing, or climbing. The thin, somewhat succulent
leaves are peltate, their petioles
attached at the middle of the ivy-shaped leaf blades. The inflorescence
is an umbel
of 2 to 9 pink flowers, with 5 dark-streaked or marked petals each up to 2 centimeters long. The smaller leaves of the plant are edible, tasting sour and astringent
.
Pelargonium
Pelargonium is a genus of flowering plants which includes about 200 species of perennials, succulents, and shrubs, commonly known as scented geraniums or storksbills. Confusingly, Geranium is the correct botanical name of a separate genus of related plants often called Cranesbills. Both Geranium...
known by the common names ivy-leaf geranium and cascading geranium. It is native to southern Africa, particularly South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It is commonly grown as an ornamental plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
. This is a subshrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
which can reach two meters in height, its branches prostrate, spreading, trailing, or climbing. The thin, somewhat succulent
Succulent plant
Succulent plants, also known as succulents or fat plants, are water-retaining plants adapted to arid climates or soil conditions. Succulent plants store water in their leaves, stems, and also in roots...
leaves are peltate, their petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
attached at the middle of the ivy-shaped leaf blades. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is an umbel
Umbel
An umbel is an inflorescence which consists of a number of short flower stalks which are equal in length and spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs....
of 2 to 9 pink flowers, with 5 dark-streaked or marked petals each up to 2 centimeters long. The smaller leaves of the plant are edible, tasting sour and astringent
Astringent
An astringent substance is a chemical compound that tends to shrink or constrict body tissues, usually locally after topical medicinal application. The word "astringent" derives from Latin adstringere, meaning "to bind fast"...
.