A 
THEIR FORMS AND FUNCTIONS. 47 
GERANIACER. 
This family differs considerably as regards stipules. Some are ex- 
stipulate. Averrhoa Carambola, Linn., for instance, is exstipulate ; 
the leaves are conduplicate in bud, three of them covering the 
younger ones, which, moreover, are protected by long silky hairs. 
In Impatiens parviflora, DC., the edge of the petiole is 
furnished with one or two stalked glandular processes of un- 
equal size. It is also decurrent upon the stem, forming a slender 
ridge on either side, which also bears numerous, shortly stalked 
glands. These do not increase in number, so that they become 
gradually separated by the elongation of the stem. Those on 
the edges of the stem increase considerably in size, and appear 
to represent stipules such as those of Fuchsia, Circea. The 
bud is protected by the short and stout bases of the leaves. 
Whatever doubt there may be whether the term stipule can be 
applied to these glandular processes, some species of the genus 
Oxalis are certainly stipulate, though the stipules present con- 
siderable differences. The ‘Genera Plantarum’ does indeed 
describe the genus as exstipulate; and this is no doubt true of 
most species, perhaps, for instance, of all the South-African forms. 
‘On the other hand, our three British species, O. Acetosella, 
Linn., O. corniculata, Linn., and O. stricta, Linn., are all 
stipulate. The transition from exstipulate to stipulate species 
is very gradual. O. purpurata, Jacq., has subterete petioles, 
flattened above, and articulate with a pedestal, both the pedestal 
and the petiole being densely glandular and pubescent. The 
stipules or their representatives are completely adnate to the 
edges of the pedestal, and terminate abruptly so as to form 
a triangular tooth at the upper outer angle. They are mem- 
branous and sheath-like. At the close of the season’s growth 
there are sometimes several imperfect leaves, and the sheaths 
in these cases become greatly expanded. They persist after 
their leaves have fallen, and, with the pedestals, completely 
invest the bud. In O. floribunda the arrangement as regards 
the bud is similar, but the points of the stipular sheath are 
rather longer. 
In O. corniculata, Linn., the stipules are submembranous, 
strongly ciliate, and terminate abruptly at the upper end. They 
are folded round, and amply protect both the terminal and axillary 
buds. The terminal bud consists of several leaves folded one 
