GERANIALES 



577 



Herbs. 



Capsule splitting into 5 carpels; leaves 3-foliolate or dissected 



Geraniaceae. 



Capsule 2-5 celled not splitting into carpels. 

 Stamens 2-3 times as many as the petals. 



Leaf 3-foliolate Oxalidaceae. 



Stamens as many as the petals Linaceae. 



Trees or shrubs with compound leaves ; leaves often punctate. 



Leaves punctate Rutaceae. 



Leaves not punctate Simarubaceae. 



Flowers irregular; petals 3, stamens diadelphous or monadelphous. . Polygalaceae. 



Flowers regular generally apetalous, monoecious ; carpels mostly 3 ; generally 



herbs with milky juice Euphorbiaceae. 



Fig. 317. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus). Flowering 

 branch. (After Faguet). 



GERANIACEAE 



Herbs with alternate or opposite leaves ; flowers perfect, regular, 5-nerved, 

 hypogynous; stamens as many or twice as many or more than the petals; ovary 

 1, usually 5-lobed; ovules 1-2 in each cavity; fruit capsular. About 450 species 

 of wide distribution. Native to the tropics and temperate regions of both 

 hemispheres. Many plants of this order are frequently cultivated ; among these 

 are the South African pelargonium, commonly called the geranium, which con- 

 tains geraniol C 1Q H 18 O. The sharp points of the fruit of some are injurious. 



