Botanical name

Pelargonium papilionaceum

Family

Geraniaceae

Common Name

Butterfly Pelargonium, Rambossie
Pelargonium papilionaceum
Pelargonium papilionaceum
Pelargonium papilionaceum
Pelargonium papilionaceum
Pelargonium papilionaceum
Pelargonium papilionaceum

Description

Erect, strongly aromatic shrub up to 2m, much branched, with a woody main stem, side branches covered with long soft hairs. Leaves are 3-5 lobed lower down but cordate on the upper parts and can reach 10cm across; leaves glandular and partly covered with longish hairs; stipules are broadly ovate. Pink to carmine flowers are borne on longish, hairy stalks and grouped in umbels of 5-12 flowers; two upper petals are marked in carmine and white and are much larger than the three very narrow lower petals; 7 fertile stamens are present.

Latin: papilio, butterfly: referring to the 2 larger petals which give the flower a butterfly-like appearance.

The leaves have an unpleasant scent, described by some as that of a 'he-goat', hence the common name Rambossie.

Habitat

Grows in kloofs, the edges of forests in shady places and usually near streams

Flower Date

September to January