Pelargonium littorale

Pelargonium littorale is a species of Pelargonium found within the southwest botanical province of Australia.

Pelargonium littorale
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Geraniales
Family:	Geraniaceae
Genus:	Pelargonium
Species:	P. littorale
Binomial name
Pelargonium littorale Hügel ex Endl.

Description

A perennial herb found as an erect or semiprostrate shrub, Pelargonium littorale may be 100 to 500 mm in height. The flowers are pink with a deeper coloration at the center. The species bears a strong resemblance to a co-genor, Pelargonium capitatum; a 'rose scented' species, introduced from South Africa, that occupies a very similar habitat. The species was first described by Karl von Hügel, a plant collector who visited the state in 1837. This was published by Endlicher. It is described as native, not endemic.

Distribution

The plant is found along coastal regions in the province, the range extends from most south eastern corner to the Geraldton Sandplains in the North. An occurrence is also given in South Australia and Victoria.

Taxonomy

The species has been placed within Pelargonium sect. Peristera. A subspecies division has also been applied :

• Pelargonium littorale Huegel subsp. littorale

References

• "Pelargonium littorale Huegel". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
• "The Pelargonium Page". Discussion List. Retrieved 2007-08-31. Section Peristera DC. littorale Hügel
• "Pelargonium littorale Endl". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). IBIS. Retrieved 2007-08-31. Hugel, C.A.A. von ex Endlicher, S.L. in Hugel, C.A.A. von in Huegel, C.A.A. von (1837), Botanisches Archiv der Gartenbaugesellschaft der Ossterreichischen Kaiserstaates 2: t. 5 Type: "welche von dem Herausgeber am Schwanen flusse gesammelt, ..." [given by Endlicher, Enum. Pl. Huegel (Apr. 1837) 14 as "Swan-River (Hügel.)."].
• Rippey, Elizabeth; Rowland, Barbara (2004) [1995]. Coastal plants: Perth and the south-west region (2nd ed.). Perth: UWA Press. pp. 182, 13. ISBN 1-920694-05-6. *Pelargonium capitatum (L.) Rose pelargonium ... high priority environmental weed.