Magenta Stork’s-bill - native (Pelargonium rodneyanum )

Family: Geraniaceae (Geranium family).

Native of south-eastern mainland Australia.

Occurrence: Widespread in forest and grassland areas. It may persist in grazed areas, often at the base of a tree.

Identification:

• it is a herb (i.e. non-woody plant) to 20-30 cm
• it flowers in summer (usually Nov-Jan)
• it has distinctive magenta flowers
• the leaves are a glossy green with long stalks.

Magenta Stork's-bill makes an attractive garden plant, and is suited to rockeries and mass planting.

Pelargoniums differ from Geraniums in that the flowers have a two-fold symmetry, rather than the radial symmetry of geraniums.

Photos: Magenta Stork's-bill in flower.