mutifid-leaf pelargonium

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• mutifid-leaf pelargonium
• rasp-leaf pelargonium
• Multifid-Leaved Storksbill
• Rasp -Leaved Storksbill
• Raspleaf Storksbill
• multifid-leaved pelargonium
• rasp-leaved pelargonium

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pelargonium asperifolium
• Geraniospermum revolutum
• Geraniospermum roseum
• Pelargonium rosodorum
• Geranium asperifolium
• Pelargonium raduloides
• Pelargonium radula var. roseum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Geraniales, it is classified under the family Geraniaceae. It is further identified by the genus Pelargonium, specifically as the species Pelargonium radens.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to the specific region of Southern Africa. Its primary habitat is located within the Cape Provinces. Within this area, it thrives in unique ecological niches suited to its needs. The geographical range is relatively concentrated rather than being widespread across the continent. Consequently, its natural distribution remains closely tied to these southern coastal and inland environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pelargonium radens is characterized by its adaptability to a wide vertical distribution within its native habitat, thriving across a diverse topographical gradient. This species inhabits environments ranging from low-lying areas at an elevation of 61 m AMSL to more elevated terrains reaching a maximum of 1372 m AMSL. This broad elevational range suggests that the plant is capable of tolerating varying atmospheric pressures, temperature fluctuations, and moisture levels associated with different altitudinal zones. Such ecological plasticity allows it to occupy various niches within its ecosystem, potentially ranging from coastal or lowland scrublands to more temperate mid-altitude slopes.

Elevational range max:

1372 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

61 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Pelargonium radens is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. As a perennial species, it undergoes various developmental stages, including vegetative growth, flowering, and seed production, often exhibiting a variable lifecycle depending on environmental conditions and resource availability. This longevity enables the plant to establish robust root systems and accumulate energy reserves, which facilitate survival during unfavorable periods and support repeated reproductive efforts over time.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pelargonium radens is characterized by a growth form classified as a herb, exhibiting a non-woody structure. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it maintains an independent existence as it is not a parasite. In terms of its ecological positioning, the plant is strictly terrestrial, lacking any epiphytic or aquatic tendencies. The physical stature of the species is relatively low, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

Reproduction in Pelargonium radens occurs through the development of specialized fruit structures that follow successful pollination. The plant produces distinct fruits that serve as the primary vessel for seed dispersal. Based on morphological observations, the fruit exhibits a highly consistent size profile, with a measured fruit length that shows no significant variation across different specimens. Specifically, the fruit length is characterized by a constant value, where the minimum, mean, and maximum measurements all converge at exactly 2 cm. This uniformity in fruit length suggests a stable reproductive development pattern within the species, ensuring that the seeds are contained within a standardized structure optimized for the plant's life cycle.

Fruit length max:

2 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pelargonium radens has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower.

Flower

1. Radiobiologiia

Chemicals

Pelargonium radens has 23 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Citronellol, GERANIOL, Linalool, Citronellyl formate, l-MENTHONE.

Citronellol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
3. PloS one
4. Malaria journal

GERANIOL

1. Dr. Duke
2. PloS one
3. Malaria journal

Linalool

1. Dr. Duke
2. PloS one
3. Malaria journal

Citronellyl formate

1. Dr. Duke
2. Malaria journal

l-MENTHONE

1. PloS one
2. Malaria journal

(E)-Rose oxide

1. Dr. Duke

(Z)-Rose oxide

1. Dr. Duke

(Z)-linalool oxide

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Pelargonium radens has 110 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Acaricide, Allelochemic, Allelopathic.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin
3. PloS one

Antimicrobial

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anesthetic

1. Dr. Duke

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiEBV

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations

Pelargonium radens has 12 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oils, Essential oils, PREO-based formulations, Pelargonium essential oil, anthocyan preparation isolated from flower petals.

Essential oils

1. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Veterinary parasitology
3. Malaria journal

Essential oils

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Preo-based formulations

1. PloS one

Pelargonium essential oil

1. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin

Anthocyan preparation isolated from flower petals

1. Radiobiologiia

Commercially available pelargonium oils

1. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin

Essential oil (preo)

1. PloS one

Ethanol extracts

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Nanoemulsions

1. PloS one

Nanoformulations

1. PloS one