Flora of New Zealand Series

ivy-leaved geranium

Long-trailing or scrambling herb; stems with retrorse appressed hairs. Lvs peltate; stipules large, oblong-ovate, ovate, or broad-ovate; petiole generally < blade. Lamina to c. 8 × 10 cm, usually 5-lobed 1/4-⅓ way to midrib, the lower lobes sometimes with small basal secondary lobe, semi-succulent, glabrous or nearly so above, often with small dark zone above near petiole insertion; veins beneath hairy, especially on young lvs; margins red, ciliate. Umbels usually 3-7-flowered, eglandular; peduncles to c. 40 cm long, with retrorse hairs; pedicels 0.3-1 cm long; bracts forming an involucre. Sepals 12-14 mm long, 4 lanceolate, 1 narrow-ovate, reddish or purplish, densely hairy or glabrate; calyx spur 0.8-1.5 cm long. Corolla usually pale to deep pink, sometimes mauve, often semi-double (petaloid staminodes); upper 2 petals (1.5)-2.2-3 cm long, obovate; claw with median white band bordered by dark crimson line; limb rounded, truncate or slightly emarginate; lower 3 petals smaller and without claw markings. Ovary and lower part of style villous; style and stigma pink or mauve. Mericarps not seen.

N.: Paekakariki (near Wellington); S.: near Kekerengu (Marlborough), Banks Peninsula, especially the Port Hills.

South Africa 1959

Dry sunny coastal slopes, often in low scrub.

FL Jan-Dec.

Ivy-leaved geranium is very commonly cultivated throughout N.Z. particularly in coastal areas. Plants rarely or never seed, but reproduce vegetatively so freely that small colonies of 1 cv. easily become established. Sometimes the dark lf band is absent but the long trailing stems and lobed, fleshy and almost glabrous lvs are diagnostic.