NAT. ORDER 

 Geraniacece. 



GERANIUM SANGUINEUM. VICTORIA PERFECTION. 



Class XVI. MoNADELPiA* Order V. Decandria. 



Gen. Char. Calyx, five-leaved, equal. Stamens, ten ; five alternate 

 ones longer, with nectariferous glands at the base. Pericarps, 

 five, with long awns, united to elongated receptacles, at length 

 separating elastically from the summit to the base. Aimis, 

 smooth internally. 



Spe. Char. Stem, angular, erect, retrorsely pubescent, dichomous. 

 Leaves, three to five-parted, incised ; radicle ones on long peti- 

 oles ; upper ones opposite, sessile. Petals, entire. Filaments, 

 scarcely ciliate at the base. 



The root of this plant is fleshy, bulbous, knotty, of a dark brown 

 color, and sends off a number of small succulent fibres ; the stems 

 of this genus of plants are upright, branched, and rise from one to 

 six feet in height ; the calyx is composed of five equal sepals ; the 

 petals are five, and equal ; the stamens are ten, five of which are fer- 

 tile and larger than t^e sterile ones, which are alternating with each 

 other, witli a nectariferous gland at the base of each of the larger 

 stamens ; the awns of the carpel are smooth on the inside, at length 

 separating elastically from the base to the apex of the axis, where it 

 adheres, circinnately revolute ; the leaves are palmate-lobed ; the jk- 

 duncles are twelve-flowered, bearing beautiful flowers of various 

 hues. 



This variety of the Geranium approaches, both in appearance 

 and properties, the Geranium maculatum, or Spotted Crane's-bill, 

 which grows in almost all parts of the United States. The root is 



Vol, iii.— 78. 



