] 54 



HABDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[July 1, 1869. 



G. pusillum it is the rule. Again, the carpels of G. 

 molle and G. pusillum are remarkably unlike, as 

 the accompanying figures (from "English Botany ") 

 will show ; in the former they are " transversely 

 wrinkled with prominent ridges," and glabrous (fig. 

 119) ; in the latter " without transverse wrinkles," 

 and " downy, with short hairs " (fig. 117). 



The 



Both two-flowered and three-flowered peduncles oc- 

 curred on the same plants. In specimens since 

 received from Cornwall and Wiltshire, the peduncles 

 are invariably two-flowered. G. rotundifolium is the 

 rarest of our Cranesbills. Mr. Watson gives Glou- 

 cestershire and Suffolk as its northern limit as a 

 native plant, regarding its occurrence farther north 

 as having been erroneously recorded, or as an intro- 

 duction with ballast ; in the south of England it is 

 more frequent, but can scarcely be called common. 



Fig. 119. Carpels of G. molle. 



Small-flowered Cranesbill is more straggling and 

 untidy-looking than G. molle : its stems are weaker, 

 and less hairy: both species flower from spring 

 until late autumn. Dr. Bromfield* says of G. molle : 

 " The herbage has a perceptible musky fragrance on 

 a warm day, in addition to its usual rather strong 

 odour, which is retained for some time after the 

 plant is gathered ;" while G. pusillum is destitute of 

 this fragrance. 



The Bound-leaved Cranesbill (G. rotundifolium) 

 is sometimes a tall plant, with erect, soft stems, 

 and roundish leaves covered with whitish hairs, by 

 which it is rendered conspicuous at some little 

 distance. At other times, however, it resembles G. 

 molle in habit, and has many, much - branched, 

 ascending stems proceeding from the root. A 

 single glance at the flowers will at once determine 

 this species ; they are pale pinkish-white, or some- 

 times rose-coloured, and the petals are entire. The 

 specific name, rotundifolium, is, perhaps, scarcely 

 appropriate, as, although the general outline of 

 the leaves is round, they are not entire, although 

 the earlier ones are less divided than the rest. 

 Young botanists often mistake immature plants 

 of G. molle for this species; the root-leaves of 

 both being round. Those who do not know 67. 

 rotundifolium will therefore do well to wait until 

 their -supposed specimens are in blossom, before 

 they announce their discovery, as there can then 

 be no danger of mistake; and a few inaccurate 

 statements of this description seriously detract from 

 the botanical reputation of those who make them. 

 The peduncles are shorter than in most of the 

 species : they are usually described as two-flowered, 

 but specimens which we collected at Oxford three- 

 years since were, in several instances, three 

 flowered. In one specimen, three flowers proceeded 

 from the same base ; in two or three others, one 

 blossom was below the other two: the accom- 

 panying figures, drawn from these specimens, will 

 illustrate this peculiarity, which, as far as our own 

 observation goes, is confined to this species (fig. 120). 



* " Flora Vectensis." 



Fig. 120. Abnormal peduncles of G. rotundifolium. 



Perhaps the Long-stalked Cranesbill (G. columbi- 

 num) is the most elegant of our species, although 

 it is difficult to give any one the preference. It has 

 very deeply-cut leaves, divided to their base with 

 pointed segments, often tipped with red : the root- 

 leaves are on long stalks. When growing among 

 clover, with which it is frequently introduced, it is 

 decumbent, spreading along the ground, the pedun- 

 cles ascending; but on hedgebanks it assumes a 

 more luxuriant habit, and the slender stems are 

 sometimes almost erect, at others spreading. The 

 flowers are rather large, but not flat, as in some of 

 the species ; for the sepals have long awns, which 

 equal or exceed the petals in length, and the blossom 

 consequently assumes a bell or vase-shaped appear- 

 ance. Its colour is not easy to describe ; Mr. Syme 

 calls it " purplish-rose," but this hardly character- 

 izes it, although it is difficult to find a better term. 

 Both leaves and flowers are on remarkably long- 

 stalks ; in specimens now before us, the peduncles 

 and pedicels each average two inches in length, 

 some exceeding it ; and these are in plants which 

 have not yet attained their full growth. The 

 flowers are less numerous than in the preceding 

 species, and the petals, which are slightly notched, 

 are very fugacious. Although widely distributed, 

 the Long-stalked Cranesbill is by no means a com- 

 mon plant ; it is most frequent in chalky districts. 

 We may note that the species called by Gerarde 

 G. columbinum, is that now known as G. molle; 

 taking into consideration the received name, 

 "Dove's -foot," of this plant, in conjunction with 

 the French Pied de Pigeon, and the corresponding 

 Dutch name given by Gerarde, it seems a pity that 

 the specific appellation, columbinum, should have 

 been transferred to the Long-stalked Cranesbill. 



