The quilted leaf appearance of Pelargonium echinatum is evident on the upper surfaces where the blade sections between veining tend to bulge. The blades also fold in slightly along the bigger veins, prominent upon the lower surfaces. The main lateral veins are positioned to serve the few rounded lobes or large scallops of the leaf blade, upper branching of veins radiating to the serrated lobe margins. Faint velvety hairiness is present on both surfaces

The common name of bobbejaan-t'neitjie (baboon t'neitjie) succeeds in linking baboons to the plant, maybe as food? The t'neitjie bit comes from an early indigenous language, maybe Nama, the tribe that gave Namaqualand its name. What the plant signified for those early inhabitants as captured in the name is not known (Le Roux, et al, 2005).