Geranium traversii Hook.f.
Low, rosette-forming perennial herb, with stout caulorrhiza, often producing runners; stems and lvs ± densely covered in silvery hairs. Basal lvs with slender petioles to ± 20 cm long. Lamina (1.5)-2-7-(9) cm diam., broad-reniform to orbicular, lobed to usually c. 1/2 way but sometimes more deeply; lobes 5-7, cuneate, toothed or lobed further. Cauline lvs similar to basal but smaller. Fls solitary; peduncles to ± 10 cm long, with retrorse hairs; bracteoles narrow-lanceolate, subacuminate. Sepals 7-11 × 2-4 mm, narrow- to broad-ovate, densely covered with grey hairs, cuspidate. Petals c. 12 × 10 mm, broad-obovate or obovate-oblong, pink or white, sometimes with darker veins. Stamens < or > pistil. Mericarps with silky hairs; beak (8)-12-18-(22) mm long. Seeds 2-2.5 × 1.2-1.5 mm, oblong-ellipsoid, dark brown, with very fine, elongated alveolae.
Ch.
Endemic.
Coastal habitats.
FL Oct-Feb.
G. traversii has fls 20-25 diam. and thus much larger than any other indigenous sp. of the genus. Not surprisingly it is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental. Most plants in cultivation probably represent var. elegans Cockayne, Trans. Proc. N.Z. Inst. 34: 320 (1902), a minor variant unworthy of varietal status. It is said to have fls rather larger than the type and petals pink with darker veins.
