kidney-leaved pelargoni

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• kidney-leaf pelargonium
• Kidney Storksbill
• Kidneyleaf Storksbill
• kidney-leaved pelargonium

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cortusina reniformis
• Geraniospermum reniforme
• Geranium reniforme

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is positioned in the order Geraniales and the family Geraniaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Pelargonium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is characterized by a very specific and localized geographical range. It is native to the southern portion of the African continent. Within this region, its presence is strictly confined to the Cape Provinces. This narrow distribution suggests that it thrives only under the unique climatic conditions found there. Consequently, its habitat remains limited to these particular coastal and inland areas of South Africa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pelargonium reniforme is characterized by its ability to inhabit a diverse altitudinal gradient, allowing it to occupy various niches within its native landscape. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, thriving across an elevational range that begins at a low altitude of 20 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 1494 m AMSL. This broad vertical distribution suggests an adaptability to varying climatic conditions, ranging from warmer, coastal, or lowland environments to more temperate and potentially rugged montane habitats found at higher elevations. Such a wide range in altitude likely exposes the plant to a spectrum of moisture levels, soil compositions, and temperature fluctuations, defining its role within its specific biological community.

Elevational range max:

1494 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

20 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Pelargonium reniforme is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a cryptophyte, a classification that indicates its regenerative organs are protected below the soil surface. Specifically, the plant exhibits a geophyte life form, meaning it survives unfavorable environmental conditions by retreating to specialized underground storage organs, which provide the necessary energy reserves for regrowth during subsequent favorable periods.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pelargonium reniforme is characterized by its growth form as a woody subshrub, which functions as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber. It exhibits a terrestrial lifestyle, existing neither as an aquatic nor an epiphytic species, and grows as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant is relatively low-growing, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Pelargonium reniforme has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, METHYL GALLATE, myricetin, 2''-O-Galloylisoorientin, 2''-O-Galloylisovitexin.

Flavonoids

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

METHYL GALLATE

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of applied microbiology

myricetin

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of applied microbiology

2''-O-Galloylisoorientin

1. Phytochemistry

2''-O-Galloylisovitexin

1. Phytochemistry

2''-O-Galloylorientin

1. Phytochemistry

2''-O-Galloylvitexin

1. Phytochemistry

COUMARALDEHYDE

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Coumaric Acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Gallic acid

1. Journal of applied microbiology

Conditions

Pelargonium reniforme has 8 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include tuberculosis, Mycobacterium fortuitum, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, asthma, cough.

Tuberculosis

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of applied microbiology

Mycobacterium fortuitum

1. Journal of applied microbiology

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

1. Journal of applied microbiology

Asthma

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Cough

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Eczema

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Infections

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Mycobacteria

1. Journal of applied microbiology

Preparations

Pelargonium reniforme has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous P. reniforme extracts.

Aqueous p. reniforme extracts

1. Journal of applied microbiology