no SOUTH AFRICAN FLOWERING PLANTS, 



part of each whorl is exactly alike ; iu some, as 

 Pelargonium, they vary in shape, colour, size, and 

 number, so that whenever the parts of a whorl are 

 not all alike, it is said to be irregular. 



There are seven genera in South Africa, of which 

 Ox'alis has more than 100 species and Pelargo'nium 

 about 160. The others have very few, as from one to 

 eight species only. 



Of the four South African genera with regular 

 flowers, Monso'nia and Sarcocau'lon have fifteen stamens, 

 Gera'nium has ten, and Ero'dium five. 



Monso'nia has the fifteen stamens grouped in five 

 parcels, each containing three stamens. There are 

 eight Cape species. 



Sarcocau'lon is remarkable for secreting a great 

 quantity of wax, so that the stem burns like a candle, 

 emitting a pleasant odour at the same time. The stem 

 is succulent and spiny, a common result of living in 

 very dry regions, as that of the north-western districts, 

 etc., where it grows.^ 



Gera'nium (" Crane's Bill "). — There is a common 

 species, called G. inca'mtm, from the " hoary " or white 

 appearance in consequence of the dense, silky hairs 

 upon the stems and lower sides of the leaves. It 

 occurs in the Cape flats on the Peninsula and else- 

 where in the western district. The blades of the 

 leaves are ]^almately divided from the base, consisting 

 ' See p. 39 for a description of it. 



