Variable stork's-bill
Pelargonium luridum

Family: Geraniaceae

What it is like

A herb. It has a rootstock that lasts from year to year. It grows 70 cm high. The leaves are in a dense ring near the base. New leaves are almost round and later leaves have lobes. The flowering stalk is tall with a large number of flowers. The flowers are white tinged with pink. The leaves on the one plant can vary considerably in size and shape. The lower leaves are less divided. It may be that these plants cross breed or form hybrids.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in poorly drained soils. It grows between 800-2,440 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. In Zimbabwe it grows above 1,350 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves and stems are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Leaves, stems

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Pelargonium aconitiphyllum (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Steud.; Pelargonium benguellense (Welw. ex Oliver) Engl.; Pelargonium flabellifolium Harvey var. benguellense Welw. ex Oliver; Pelargonium heckmannianum Engl.; Pelargonium angulosum Szyszyl.; Pelargonium hurifolium Sweet; Pelargonium rehmannii Szyzsyl.; Pelargonium longiscapum Schlechter ex Kunth; Pelargonium zeyheri Harv.; Polyactium aconitophyllum Eckl. & Zeyh.; Geraniospermum aconitophyllum (Ecklon & Zeyher) Kuntze; Geraniospermum zeyheri (Harvey) Kuntze; Geranium luridum Andr.;