290 xxxn, GERAKiACEiE (oliveb). [Monsonia. 



1 . M. mossamedensis, Welw. mss. A low prostrate glabrate or mi- 

 nutely pulverulent shrub with thick, fleshy, divaricate branches, usually 

 fiercely spinose from the persistent rigid petioles. Leaves broadly ovate- 

 rotundate or subcordate, obscurely lobulate or sinuate, unequally denticulate, 

 glabrous or pulverulent, the larger from i-l£ in. long and broad ; petioles 

 |-1|- in., the lamina at length separating near the apex. "Flowers lilac- 

 purple, rather large, on 1 -flowered peduncles bracteolate below the middle 

 or at the base. Sepals elliptic-oblong, \-\ in. long, with an apiculus of 1-2 

 lines. Petals \-\ in. long. Filaments shortly polyadelphous. Fruit-car- 

 pels appressed-pilose below j beak 1^-2 in., glabrous. 



Lower Guinea. Mossamedes, Angola, Br. Wehcitsch ! 



At once distinguished from the allied Cape species by the form of the leaves. 



2. M. senegalensis, Guill. et Perr. Fl. Seneg. i. 131. A diffuse 

 often frutescent herb with several or numerous procumbent, pubescent, mi- 

 nutely glandular branches spreading from the crown. Leaves cordate-ovate 

 acute or rather obtuse and mucronate, repand-denticulate, glabrate above, 

 pubescent or pilose at least on the principal nerves beneath, f-l| in. long; 

 petioles pubescent or pilose, usually longer than the lamina, of the radical 

 leaves twice as long. Stipules subulate, sometimes rather rigid. Peduncles 

 1-flowered, with a pair of bracteoles near or below the middle, at which the 

 peduncle is at length sharply deflexed. Petals but little exceeding the sepals. 

 Carpels pilose ; beak 3 in. long, pubescent or glabrate; tails pilose within. 



Upper Guinea. Senegambia, Terrottet and Leprieur, Bicljem ! 



Nile Land. Abyssinia, Schimper ! Upper Egypt and Kordofan, Kotschy ! 



Occurs in Namaqualand and again in Western India. Nearly allied to M. ova/a, Cav., 

 of the Cape, which appears to have much larger flowers, loosely pilose branches with spread- 

 ing hairs, and irregularly crenulate leaves. I have not had good flowers of M. senegalensis 

 for examination. 



3. M. biflora, DC. Prod. i. 638. An annual herb of 6 in. to 1 ft., 

 usually branching near the base, erect or with some of the branches procum- 

 bent, pubescent or puberulous, usually sparsely scattered with long patent 

 hairs. Leaves oblong- or oval- to ovate-lanceolate, usually emarginate with 

 a mucro, irregularly or remotely dentate-serrulate, glabrescent excepting on 

 the nerves beneath, 1-2 in. long, £-f in. broad. Petiole shorter than or 

 equalling the lamina. Stipules narrow-subulate, rather pungent. Peduncles 

 1-2-3-flowered with 2-4 subulate-filiform bracteoles near or below the 

 middle. Petals not half as long again as the sepals in our specimens. Fruit 

 similar to that of M. seneg alensis.—M. angustifolia, E. Mey. ; Rich. Fl. 

 Abyss, i. 115. 



Nile Land. Abyssinia, Schimper ! 



Lower Guinea. Hnilla, Angola, Dr. Welwitsckt 



Occurs at the Cape. 



2. GERANIUM, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PI. i. 272. 



Flowers regular. Sepals 5, imbricate. Petals 5. Stamens 10, usually 

 all antheriferous, free or connate at the base. Ovary 5-lobed, 5-celled; 

 stigmatic lobes as many ; " ovules geminate, more or less superposed." Cocci 



