Flora of New Zealand Series

grape-leaved geranium

Suberect to erect, villous, aromatic subshrub to c. 1 m tall; stem with long pilose and short glandular hairs. Stipules prominent, ovate. Petioles of larger lower lvs > lamina. Lamina of lower lvs to 9 × 10 cm, broad-ovate; lobes 3, not extending 1/2 way to midrib, large and ± rounded, dentate, more densely hairy below than above; veins densely pilose and with short glandular hairs; basal sinus deep and narrow to shallow and wide. Upper lvs with petioles < lamina; lamina lobulate or not lobed, broadly ovate, somewhat longer than broad. Umbels dense, mostly 6-15-(20)-flowered, with dense, patent, white, pilose hairs and short glandular hairs; peduncles to 12 cm long; fls subsessile; bracts 7-10 mm long, ovate-oblong, mucronate. Sepals 8-10 mm long, lanceolate or narrowly elliptic-ovate, greenish, densely white-hirsute; calyx spur 4-5 mm long, densely white-hirsute. Corolla irregular, 1.5-2 cm long, pink; upper 2 petals larger and with dark crimson markings in lower 1/2, ± obovate; lower 3 petals oblanceolate. Style pink in upper parts; stigmas darker. Mericarps not seen.

N.: small populations have been recorded from 2 sites, the mouth of the Wairau R. (Hokianga County, N. Auckland) and St John's Hill, Wanganui.

S.W. Cape area of South Africa 1983

Coastal cliffs, sandy flats and roadside, cultivation escape.

FL Nov-Feb.

A very closely related sp. from the same region is P. capitatum, rose- scented geranium. This has been collected wild in the Hokianga area of N. Auckland (see under key).