Nitraria.'] xxxi. zygophylle^e (oliver). 289 



this shrub, of which I have not seen very good specimens, Mr. Munby has suggested may 

 have beeu the Lotos of the ancient lotophagi. It occurs in Northern Africa and eastward 

 to Syria. 



Oedee XXXII. GERANIACE^ (by Prof. Oliver). 



(Impatiens, by Dr. J. D. Hooker.) 



Flowers hermaphrodite, regular or irregular. Sepals 5, free or rarely 

 united below, usually imbricate, the posterior sometimes spurred. Petals 5 

 or rarely fewer by abortion. Stamens usually 10, all, 7, 6, or 5 only antheri- 

 ferous, rarely 15 or 5 all antheriferous ; filaments free or connate below ; 

 anthers often versatile, 2-celled, dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary usually 3- 

 o-Iobed, 3-5-celled. Styles free or united ; stigmas various. Ovules 1, or 2 

 more or less superposed, rarely numerous. Fruit a 3-5-lobed capsule, usually 

 with a central produced beak, separating septicidally into as many cocci as 

 carpels or dehiscing loculicidally, rarely baccate. Seeds with little or no 

 albumen. — Herbs or more rarely shrubs, glabrous pubescent or glandular. 

 Leaves alternate or opposite, usually stipulate, simple or compound. Pedun- 

 cles axillary or leaf-opposed. Flowers solitary, umbellate or various. 



A considerable Order with representatives in every quarter of the globe. Two of the 

 largest genera are very numerous at the Cape and characteristic of its Flora. 



Tribe Geranieae. — Flowers regular or nearly so, usually with hypogynous glands. 

 Sepals net spurred. Leaves simple. 



Stamens 15 1. Monsonia. 



Stamens 10 2. Geranium. 



Stamens 5 3. Erodium. 



Tribe Pelargoniese. — Flowers irregular. Posterior sepal with an adnate spur. 



4. Pelargonium. 



Tribe Oxalidese. — Flowers regular, hypogynous. Glands 0. Leaves compound. 



5. Oxalis. 



Tribe Balsamineee. — Flowers irregular. Sepals coloured, the posterior spurred. 

 Leaves simple 6. Impatiens. 



1. MONSONIA, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PI. i. 271. 

 {Sarcocaulon, DC. ; Benth. et Hook. f. 1. c.) 



Flowers regular. Sepals 5, imbricate. Petals 5. Stamens 15, all an- 

 theriferous, in 5 connate phalanges of 3 each. Ovary 5-lobed, 5-celled ; 

 stigmatic lobes as many ; ovules geminate, obliquely superposed. Cocci se- 

 parating from the axis with revolute elastic tails pilose at the base within. — 

 Herbs or frutescent ; in sect. Sarcocaulon succulent. Leaves opposite or 

 alternate, toothed or cut, petiolate, stipulate; petioles spinescent in sect. 

 Sarcocaulon. Peduncles apparently axillary, 1-2- (or several-) flowered. 



A small genus, principally confined to the Cape, 

 ^eshy. Spinose. Peduncles 1-flowered {Sarcocaulon) . ... 1. if. mossamedensis. 

 ^either succulent nor spinescent. 



Procumbent or prostrate. Leaves ovate-cordate. Peduncles 1- 



flowered 2. M. senegalensis. 



Erect or decumbent. Leaves lanceolate. Peduncles 1 -3-flowered 3. M. biflora. 

 VOL. I. U 



