THALAMIFLOK^. 



511 



ciduous ; aestivation of sepals imbricated ; that of the petals con- 

 volute. Stamens 5. Ovary 5-celled ; style simple. Fruit 5- 

 celled, usually bursting with elasticity, without a beak. Seeds 

 suspended, exalbuminous. 



Distribution, 8fc. — A few are scattered over the globe ; but 

 they are chiefly natives of the Indies, growing generally in 

 damp shady places, and where the temperature is moderate. 

 Examples : — Impatiens, Hydrocera. There are but 2 genera, 

 which include 110 species. 



Properties and Uses. — They are said by De Candolle to be 

 diuretic, but they may be generally considered as possessing 

 properties of no importance. 



Natural Order 68. Gekaniace^. — The Crane's-bill Order 

 i^figs. 908 — 911). — General Character. — Herbs or shrubs 



Fig. 908. 



Fig. 909. 



Fig. 910. 



Fig. 911. 



Fid. 908. A portion of the flowering stem of Geranium sylvaticuni Fig. 909. 



The stamens and pistil of the same Fig. 910. The pistil partially matured, 



surrounded by the cali x Fig. 911. Transverse section of the seed. 



with articulated swollen joints. Leaves simple, opposite or 

 alternate, with membranous stipules. Sepals 5 {fig. 908), per- 

 sistent, more or less unequal ; estivation imbricated. Petals 

 5 (fig. 908), or rarely 4 from abortion, unguiculate, hypogynous 

 or perigynous ; (estivation twisted {fig. 908). Stamens usually 

 twice or thrice as many as the petals {fig. 909) ; some are, how- 

 ever, frequently abortive, hypogynous {fig. 909), and generally 

 monadelphous, the alternate ones shorter and sometimes barren. 

 Carpels 5, arranged around an elongated axis or carpophore 

 {fig. 910); styles corresponding in number to the carpels, and 

 adhering to the carpophore. Fruit consisting of 5 1 -seeded 

 carpels, which ultimately separate from the carpophore from 

 below upwards by the curhng up of the styles, which remain 

 adherent at the summit (fig. 626). Seeds without albumen; 

 cotyledons foliaceous, convolute {fig. 911). 



