Flora of New Zealand Series

peppermint geranium

Subshrub to c. 75 cm tall, smelling strongly of peppermint. Stems, lvs and infl. with ± velvety white tomentum, and glandular scales beneath hairs. Petiole to c. 30 cm long. Stipules ovate-acuminate, brown and membranous. Lamina to 12 × 15 cm, broadly obovate, rather shallowly 3-lobed with each lobe usually lobulate, serrate-dentate and extending 1/4-1/2 way to midrib; base usually shallowly cordate, sometimes deeply so. Infl. of several umbels, each with 5-8 fls; hairs dense, mostly long and simple but some short and glandular; peduncles often = petioles; pedicels 2-3.5 cm long, generally radiating widely in umbels of 6-8 fls. Sepals 5.5-6.5 mm long, ± triangular-ovate, green, with copious long white hairs; calyx spur c. 2 mm long. Corolla white or pinkish; upper 2 petals 7-8.5 mm long, ± oblong, usually with asymmetric base, crimson-purple-marked in lower 1/2; lower 3 petals 8-10.5 mm long, linear or ligulate. Style crimson or purplish, c. 4 mm long; stigmas crimson or purplish. Mericarps not seen.

N.: Eastbourne and Paekakariki (Wellington Province).

South Africa 1944

Coastal sites, usually on ± open slopes.

FL Oct-May.

Peppermint geranium is fairly commonly cultivated and can be expected to occur wild at other suitable coastal localities. It is easily recognised by its rather large, velvety hairy lvs, strongly smelling of peppermint. It has been previously recorded as the closely related P. ribifolium Jacq.