| 
254 GERANIACEE (Harv.) [ Monsonia. 
| Orper XXXI. GERANIACEZ, DC. 
| (By W. GH. Harvey.) 
(Gerania, Juss. Gen, 268. Geraniacee, DC. Prod. 1. p. 637. Endl. 
Gen. No. ccliy. Lindl. Veg. Kingd. No. ¢lxxxvii.) 
Flowers perfect, regular or irregular. Sepals 5, persistent, unequal, 
imbricate in estivation, Petals 5 (rarely 4-2-1 or none), clawed, with 
convolute «stivation, caducous. Stamens monadelphous or polyadel- 
phous, hypogynous, twice or thrice as many as the petals, some fre- 
quently abortive. Ovary of 5, uniovulate carpels, cohering round an 
awl-shaped or beak-like torus, to which the styles adhere; stigmas 5, 
filiform. Fruit of 5, membranous, one-seeded carpels, separating at 
maturity from the persistent, enlarged torus; seed exalbuminous ; 
~ embryo curved and folded, with leafy cotyledons. 
Herbaceous plants or shrubs ; sometimes stemless, or with tuberi-form, under- 
ground stems. Branches tumid and easily broken at the joints. Leaves opposite 
or alternate, simple or variously cut, rarely compound, usually stipulate. Stipules 
free or adnate with the petiole. Peduncles opposite the leaves, or in the axils of 
dichotomous branches, rarely Higlehowmed, mostly either two-flowered or um- 
belled ; the umbel involucrate. Petals showy, white, yellow, blue, red, purple or 
8 
_ A considerable Order, widely distributed, chiefly in the temperate Zones, perhaps 
: three-fourths of the species being South African. The genus Pelargonium is one of 
= those most charateristic of the Cape Flora, and a universal favourite with horticul- 
Paar turalists, who have wonderfully changed, by high culture and hybridization, the 
ss aspect of these flowers. None are poe oe to mankind. They have 
astringent properties, especially in the roots; many have remarkably aromatic 
leaves, and some yield fragrant resins. The stems of the Sarcocaulons dry up into 
masses of resin. me of the tuberous-rooted kinds may be eaten. No poisonous 
plants occur in the Order. : 
TABLE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN GENERA. 
6-8 I. Monsonia. Stamens 15, in § parcels of three each, 
©-3 If. Sarcocaulon. Stamens 15, monadelphous. 
*S ee . Sie IIT. Geranium. Stamens to, monadelphous. Flowers regular. 
pn ae IV. Erodium. Stamens 5. Flowers regular. Calyx equal at base. 
ae Ae V. Pelargonium. Stamens 7, orfewer. Flowers irregular ; petals 2, or the lower 
ee ones absent. Calyx prolonged at base into a tube. 
L MONSONIA, Lin. £ 
* Sepais equal at base, mucronate. Petals spreading equally, longer 
mn the calyx. St 15, connate at base, and spreading in 5 sets ; 
. 7 
rmed of 3 stamens whose filaments cohere for half their 
DC. Prod. 1. p.638. Endl. Gen, 6047. 
atmo r annual, herbaceous or suffruticose plants, with slender stems. Leaves 
ee » sible, sub-entire or toothed, or deeply lobed and cut. Peduncles brac- 
agree so ‘middle, one, two, or umbellately several-flowered. Named in ho- 
pees 5 aes — ee » & lady of considerable botanical taste and acquirements. 
ovate, oblong, or lanceolate, crenate or toothed. (Sp. 1-5.) 
