hi fh f Flue Wa = 
ae Hien 
=)’. a ae 
zh aes 
et Fe 
oS pele 
Nyy. ON , 
i = ETE 2 Dwiitiis. a 
a SSSES ems: eH A ' q 
Zs IT], & 7 \ “ Hin 
ZI ew \ 
he ps. ay TE i ae . 
ve. 
7 
EY 
uy 
Wilh} Rs ! 
Vi “ii ie , 
| | HE Geraniums and Pelar- 
MI goniums of our gardens and 
windows, so extensively culti- 
vated among us, have made 
everybody familiar with the 
general form of flower in this family; but several of the 
native species are common, and from them we may get a 
truer notion of the relations of the organs. There is 
an Eastern legend to the effect that we are indebted 
to Mahomet for our Geraniums. Originally, the 
nearest approach to a Geranium was a Mallow. 
Mahomet had washed his shirt, and spread it out 
to dry upon some Mallows, and these blushed so in- 
tensely, owing to the honour done to them, that they 
became permanently crimson in hue, not merely the 
flowers, but to some extent the leaves also. The 
legend does not describe how the change in the 
structure of the flower was brought about; but if we 
compare a Geranium and a Mallow we shall find the 
greatest dissimilarity, however much superficial re- 
semblance there may be—and that is really very 
123 
Ml, yi 
Wis " AL 
