CAPE CHESTNUT AND ORANGE FAMILY. 115 



rapidly, on the instant, into little corkscrew-like pieces, 

 and fling the seeds to a great distance in doing so. 



Ox'alis. — This genus has been dealt with so fully 

 that I need only refer the reader to '' The Plant and its 

 Parts" for a full description. Its name is derived 

 from a Greek word meaning " sharp," because the juice 

 is acid, which renders it unfit for food; even goats 

 refuse it in Malta. 



General Bescrvption of tlie Geraninni Family. 



Herhs — Often hairy. 



Leaves — Stipulate. 



Floivers — Mostly regular, with whorls of fives ; 

 sepals persistent; stamens, 5 or 10, sometimes 

 coherent ; pistil of 5 coherent carpels. 



Frvit~Wit\\ long " beaks." 



N.B. — Pelargo'nmm is irregular. 



Rutaceae. 

 The Cape Chestnut and Orange Family. 



This order contains 650 species of 83 genera 

 in 7 tribes, of which only 3 are represented by 14 

 genera in South Africa. They are trees and shrubs, 

 but rarely herbs, having the leaves dotted with oil- 

 glands, which give them a strong scent. The glands 

 are well seen in the rind of an orange. 



Caloden'dron. — C. Capcn'sc, the Cape chestnut, is a 



