Pelargonium capitatum lavender & chocolate cup cakes

These tempting & delicious cupcakes are just heavenly to snack on during your coffee or tea break. The natural flavours of chocolate, rose leaf pelargonium and lavender create a delicate rose, minty floral taste along with the sweetened  lemon icing.

Ingredients
75g (3 oz) self raising flour (or plain flour with 1 tablespoon baking powder)
100g(4 oz) caster sugar
100g margarine
2 eggs, beaten
3-4 sprigs of lavender flowers, flowers taken off stalk
3-4 leaves of pelargonium capitatum, cut into small pieces
3 tablespoons of cocoa powder (mixed in with the eggs)
A pinch of cinnamon
Topping (optional) lemon icing or another favour of your choice
One lemon,  100g icing sugar

To prepare
First place 18 paper cases onto a prepared  cupcake baking tray, then add the margarine and  the sugar into a warmed mixing bowl, cream the two ingredients  together using a wooden spoon until it is lighter in colour with a fluffy consistency, also mixing in any of the mixture left at the sides of the bowl.
Mix the  cocoa with a small amount of water in a small bowl  so that it turns into a paste and then add it to the beaten eggs, blending it well together with a fork. Then Add the egg/cocoa mixture a little at a time to the margarine and sugar mix, beating well together.
Next slowly fold in the flour making it as light as possible, adding the pinch of cinnamon, chopped rose scented pelargonium leaves and lavender flowers, Mix together and then spoon the mixture into the paper cases  and place them in the oven for 20 minutes at a temperature of 190 c (375 F mark 5)
lightly press the top of the cup cake with your finger to tell if they are ready and if it bounces back then they can be taken out of the oven and allow to cool.
After baking you can choose to add a layer of icing sugar with a sprinkle of lavender flowers and  then serve with a refreshment such as tea or coffee.
Icing sugar (optional)
Prepare a bowl and add 100g of icing sugar, then pour in one tablespoon of  lemon juice and mix together using the back of a spoon until it is the right consistency, adding another tablespoon or icing sugar  if needed.. Make sure the cakes are on a level surface then gently pour a small amount on top of each cake and spread it over with a knife, or if you prefer you can use a piping bag. Sprinkle with lavender flowers and or decorate with pelargonium flowers.

Pelargonium oblongatum & its amazing hybrids

This charming pelargonium with its soft delicate shades of  yellow or cream coloured flowers are simple and elegant on long branching scapes, the larger upper petals have reddish purple veins and stamens that curve upwards making it easier for insects to pollinate it. The leaves are oval or rounded & toothed  as well as having a tuberous root which is partly above ground with layers of thin brown bark.
P. Oblongatum is native to the Northern cape where it grows in hot and dry areas of shrub land in the succulent Karoo, The leaves usually appear during the winter months after a rainy period at ground level while protecting the smaller succulents below, the flowers begin to bloom in October to November, but remains dormant during the Summer. The name oblong refers to long tuber of this plant which grows to a thickness of 15 cm’s, to which the whole shrub reaches a  height of about 30 cm’s, listed under the Hoarea section. This plant was first discovered by William John Burchell during his travels to South Africa, an explorer who collected thousands of specimens for the gardens of Kew.

A hybrid of this species pelargonium includes P. oblongatum x P. Fulgidum ( pictured right) which has striking pinkish red flowers with dark red veins, arranged on long flower stalks, the upper petals are much larger and rounded than the three lower petals, which are long and thin. The leaves are also smaller than that of  P. Oblongatum which have rounded teeth.

Another colour variation of Pelargonium oblongatum x fulgidum  has very pale pink flowers with dark pinkish red veins and light green sepals that are arranged on  long brownish red flower stalks ( pictured below)

It is crossed with Pelargonium fulgidum (pictured below) which has brightly coloured scarlet or pinky red flowers arranged on long flower stalks each having four to nine flowers. The leaves are oblong to cordate with very small greyish hairs that have a soft texture and three to six lobes that curve backwards. P. Fulgidum is a low growing plant which reaches a height of  about  40 to 100 cm’s and is native to the Western cape where it grows in sandy areas and hillsides usually among granite ,appearing in winter during the rainy season.  Its name fulgidum is derived from the Latin word “Fulgidus” meaning having brightly coloured flowers, to which many hybrids are descended from this plant.

Another hybrid is P. oblongatum x hystrix ( pictured below) which  has white flowers and dark reddish veins on the upper petals which fold backwards, the centre of the flower and sepals are light green with long stamens.

The hybrid is crossed with Pelargonium hystrix (below) which has white or light cream coloured flowers, with dark reddish veins on its narrow and rectangular petals. It is a low growing succulent like shrub with thick stems and continuous spikes or stipules, which is why this plant goes by the name hystrix  as it is derived from the word “hystrichos” meaning porcupine, the leaves are oval and pinnately divided.  
P. hystrix is native to the South Western cape and western parts of the Karoo. usually  growing  under larger plants or in dry areas when it is dormant during the Summer months. This plant was discovered by Francis Masson, the Scottish gardener and botanist during the 1700’s, which was brought to the gardens of Kew.

Other hybrids of Pelargonium oblongatum include:
P. oblongatum x radicatum- has about 15 or more small white flowers arranged on a long flowering stem, with reddish pink markings on the upper petals.
P. seifcifolium x oblongatum- has attractive bright purplely pink flowers with dark purple veins, the upper petals are much larger than the lower.
P. oblongatum x cucullatum- it has similar flowers to that of P. Cucullatum but they are much lighter in colour.

References-
Book -Pelargoniums Diana miller
https://www.geraniaceae-group.org/gallery/pelargonium-species-hybrids-g-z/