| Author: |
C.L. L'Héritier de Brutelle,
1789 |
| Family: |
GERANIACEAE |
| Origin: |
Island
of St. Helena |
| Soil: |
Mix |
| Water:
|
Medium |
| Sun: |
Maximum |
| Thickness: |
5
Centimetres |
| Height: |
30
Centimetres |
| Flower:
|
White |
| Propagate: |
Seeds/Cuttings |
| Names:
|
Old
Father Live-Forever, Old Man Live-Forever |
| Synonyms: |
Geranium cotyledonis, L.
Pelargonium
cotyledon, G.
Don.
Pelargonium cotyledonifolium, Salisbury.
Geranium
cotyledonis, Linnaeus, 1771.
Erodium sempervivum, Roxb.
Isopetalum cotyledonis, Sweet. |
This member of the
Geraniaceae family was given this name by Charles Louis L'Héritier
de Brutelle in 1789. It is only found on
St. Helena Island, growing in little well-drained soil with some
water in summer. The stem will grow to five centimetres in diameter
and 30 centimetres in height. The flowers are white, and it can be reproduced
both by seeds and cuttings.
The genera name from Greek;
pelargos; 'stork' for the ripening fruits, which resembles the
bills of storks. The species name means 'resembling Cotyledon'
a genus in the Crassulaceae family.
|
|
This is another variation,
naturally occurring on St. Helena and described by Dr.
Roxburgh.
It is known as
'Ventnor', and the significant characteristic is the hairy leaves.
Photos by Vered A. Mann.
Underneath, the hairs
are dense. Photo by
Vered A. Mann.
And a grown-up one. |
