GERANIACE^. 73 



RUTA. L. 10. 1. 

 R. graveokns. L. Rue. The plant so common in gardens, 

 with leaves much divided, and leafets oblong ; strong-scented ; 

 from the South of Europe. Sudorific, and anthelmintic. For- 

 merly much used. 



ORDER 122. GERANIACE^. The Geranium Tribe. 



Calyx of 5 sepals persistent, somewhat unequal, inclosing 5 

 petals, rarely 4, having short claws ; stamens commonly mono- 

 delphous ; leaves opposite or alternate. 



Astringent and aromatic ; unequally diffused over the globe. 



Geranium. L. 15. 10. 

 Named from the Greek word for crane, the capsule and beak 

 resembling the head of that bird. A very extensive genus. 



G. maculatum. L. Crow-foot Geranium, or Crane's Bill. 

 Stem about 2 feet high, erect, hairy, forked or branched, with 

 large, spreading, haiiy, somewhat palmate leaves, of 5 - 7 

 lobes ; petals round, purple, handsome ; fruit beaked ; blooms in 

 May ; grows in meadows and fields. A very handsome plant ; 

 root astringent ; medicinal. Bigelow's " Medical Botany." 



G. dissectiim. W. Wood Geranium. Stem a foot high, 

 pubescent, with leaves variously cut and divided, and with hairy 

 petioles ; peduncles axillary, forked ; blooms in June ; Medford 

 hUls. 



G. Robcrtianum. L. Herb Robert. A small, branching, 

 spreading plant of a reddish appearance, with ternate or quinate, 

 hairy, petioled leaves ; flowers small, beautiful, purple, with 

 rounded petals ; blooms in May to August, by roadsides and 

 moist hedges. The odor of this plant is strong and offensive. 



Many species of Geranium are cultivated for ornament, as they 

 have fine flowers and foliage. Many are beautiful plants for the 

 parlour. 



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