Geraniums [a7 
have shed all their pollen, so that the chances of cross- 
and self- fertilisation are almost equal, for if insects 
do not immediately come along with foreign pollen, 
the anthers will place the pollen on the stigmas. The 
flowers of this species are only half an inch across! 
But in the Dove’s-foot Geranium (G. molle), which 
grows abundantly among grass in pastures and 
waste places, the flowers are even smaller. The first 
set of stamens mature before the stigmas, but the 
latter spread themselves before the second set of 
anthers shed their pollen; so that self-fertilisation 
must often occur. The Small-flowered Geranium 
(G. pusillwm) has flowers smaller still than the Dove’s- 
foot; and here we find that the stigmas are mature 
before any of the stamens are ripe, and ready to receive 
it as soon as shed. Mark this point: self-fertilisa- 
tion being a certain method of setting seeds with a 
few pollen-grains, only five of the stamens are 
complete—the outer five bear anthers, the inner five 
are merely filaments without anthers ! 
The Round-leaved Geranium (G. rotundifoliwnm) 
is very similar to the Dove’s-foot in size and appear- 
ance, but the petals are much paler, they are of 
narrower proportions, and they lack the “ beard” 
on the claw: any insect can seek honey in the way 
that seems best, and push about among anthers and 
stigmas as it pleases, self-fertilisation being the end 
aimed at. ‘This species is rare, and is only found 
in the southern parts of these islands. Herb-Robert 
(G. robertianum) is the most abundant of the genus, 
and its more or less reddened leaves and stems are 
conspicuous in hedge-banks almost throughout the 
year. ‘The intensity of the redness suffusing the 
9 
