# wild mallow

*Pelargonium cucullatum*

This wild shrub is one of the primary ancestors of the popular domestic 'regal pelargoniums' grown in gardens globally.

- **Taxonomy:** Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Geraniales › Geraniaceae › Pelargonium
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** grassland
- **Habitat:** Coastal fynbos, sandstone slopes, and stabilized sand dunes.
- **Diet:** Photosynthesis (sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide).
- **Range:** South Africa (Western Cape)
- **Size:** 1 to 2 meters in height
- **Lifespan:** 5-10 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Habitat loss from coastal development and encroachment by invasive alien vegetation.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless and highly aromatic. You can safely approach and gently brush the leaves to release their pleasant herbal scent. If sensitive skin develops a mild itch from the leaf hairs, wash the area with cool water.

## About

Pelargonium cucullatum (also called wildemalva , tree pelargonium or hooded-leaf pelargonium ) is a species of plant in the Geraniaceae family, that is indigenous to the south-western Cape of South Africa. It produces masses of pink and purple flowers in the summer and has been used to produce a great number of modern Pelargonium hybrids.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/ab4df46b-ed61-43ac-83f1-78011cd949a5
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/119546
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelargonium cucullatum
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/109566149/medium.jpeg (Tony Rebelo, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.