86 GERANIUM MACULATUM. 
dichotomous, with a flower stalk in the fork. Sti- 
pules and bractes linear, dilated at base. Pedun- 
cles round, hairy, swelling at base, generally two 
flowered. Calyx of five oblong, ribbed, mucron- 
ated leaves, with the parts, which are outermost 
in the bud, hairy. Petals five, obovate, not emargi- 
nate, of a light purple colour, which is deeper 
when the plant grows in the shade, marked with 
green at the base. Stamens ten, erect or curving 
outward, the alternate ones a little longer, with 
nectariferous glands at the base ; filaments dilat- 
ed and united together at base; anthers oblong, 
deciduous, so that the number frequently appears 
less than ten. Germ ovate; style straight, as 
long as the stamens ; stigmas five, at first erect, 
afterwards recurved. Capsule five seeded, sur- 
mounted by a long straight beak, from the sides of 
which when ripe are separated five thin, flat awns, 
which curl up, haying cast off the seed contained 
in the cell at the base of each. 
The root of the Geranium, which is the part to 
be used in medicine, is internally of a green col- 
our, and when dry is exceedingly brittle and easi- 
ly reduced to powder. It is one of the most pow- 
erful astringents we possess, and from its decided 
properties, as well as the ease of precuring it, it 
may well supersede in medicine many foreign ar- 
