No. 42. GEB ANXVXa. g I7 



They are now the type of a natural family Gruinalejj 

 or GeranideSj divided into many genera; Erodium 

 with five stamina, Pelargonium with seven, besides 

 Gruinalmm, Monso7iia, Oxalis, &c. The name is 

 now restricted to the species with ten stamina; it de- 

 rives from a Greek name meaning Crane, The G. 

 maculafum belongs to the true decandrous Geraniums : 

 the specific name applies to the root and leaves which 

 are often spotted or mottled ; but a variety is spotless. 



f ■ 



The varieties are many, such as !• Humile^ 2, Z)i- 

 phylluviy 3. Viridey 4. ^Ibijlorum^ 5* Macrophyh 



lunif &c. - 



It is a beautiful plant, deserving cultivation, the 

 flowers are large, but scentless, red, purple or white, 

 with darker veins. It blossoms in the spring, from 

 May to July. It has an extensive native range, and I 

 have seen it growing by millions in the glades of 

 West Kentucky, where it could be collected cheaply 

 for use and exportation. The best time for collection 



is the fall. 



Monadelph 



vmum 



M, 



Qualities — Root nearly scentless, taste astringent, 

 but not unpleasant; it contains much tannin, more 

 than kino, extractive, lignine and kinic acid? or a 

 peculiar acid differing from gallic acid in not redden- 

 ing vegetable blues, and not passing over in distilla- 

 tion. The active principles are soluble in water and. 

 alcohol: the alkalies neutralize them. 



PROPERTIES— Powerful astringent, vulnerary, 



