100 



THE GERANIUM FAMILY. 



they are often edged, as in the case of the common scarlet geranium, 

 are converted into a circlet of silver rays. (See Figs. 90, 91, 92, 93.) 

 If wetted, the spires uncurl, and become as straight as before they 

 quitted the plant, resuming the ringlet form as they become dry 

 again. This property they retain for many years, — a most curious 

 and beautiful phenomenon for parlour amusement. The hairs probably 

 act as little levers, helping to disengage the carpel from the pillar, 

 and force it into the curve. Geraniums are further characterised by 

 the numerous joints of their stems, the readiness with which they 

 snap at those places, and the abundance of their bracts and stipules* 

 which often remain after the leaves are prone. 



Fig. 91. 



Carpel of 

 relarE;onium. 



Fig. 90. 



Unripe Fruit of 

 Geranium. 



Fig. 92. 



Cai-pel of 

 Eiodium. 



Fig. 93. 



Ripe Fruit of 

 Geranium. 



The plants of this beautiful family fall into two divisions. The first 

 comprises the true geraniums, irregular-flowered, shrubby, and often 

 fragrant-leaved, the lovely gifts of the Cape of Good Hope, where 

 they grow in profusion : secondly, there are the " Crane's-bills " and 

 " Heron's-bills," principally inhabitants of the temperate parts of the 

 northern hemisphere, and distinguished by their herbaceous habit of 

 growth, their regular, and often inconspicuous blossoms, and the smell 

 of the leaves, if any, being unpleasant, unless in the musky heron's- 

 bill, or Erndium moschdtum. The crane's-bills are distinguished by 

 the tail of the carpel being simply curved ; the heron s-bills by its 

 being spirally twisted. The two latter genera alone have indigenous 

 representatives in our island, fifteen occurring in all, and nine of them 

 near Manclicster. 



In comparing specimens with the descriptions given in the chart, 

 care should be taken to look at the lower or root-leaves, as the stem- 

 leaves vary considerably, even upon the same plant. 



