174 MONADELPHIA. 



genus Erodium, (Heron's bill,) has also been removed from the 

 Geraniums. 



These three genera are all cultivated and known under 

 the name of Geraniums. They may be distinguished by the 

 following descriptions. 



The genus Erodium, (Heron's bill,) has five stamens , 

 calyx five leaved ; petals five, scales five ; alternate with the 

 filaments, and honey glands at the base of the stamens ; arils 

 or cocci, five, one seeded, awned, at the base of a rostrate, or 

 beaked receptacle. 



The Pelargoniums have seven stamens ; calyx five parted, 

 the upper segment ending in a nectariferous tube running 

 down the peduncle or flower stalk ; corolla five petalled, ir- 

 regular, the two upper petals unusually broader, with colored 

 veins. The filaments are ten, of which three are usually with- 

 out anthers. 



The Geraniums have ten stamens ; calyx five leaved ; pe- 

 tals five, regular; glands, five, honey bearing, and united to 

 the base of the longer filaments. 



The most obvious differences between the three kinds when 

 in flower, are, 1st. The Heron's bill has five stamens, and 

 five scales alternating with the filaments. 2d. The Stork's 

 bill has seven anthers, and three naked filaments, with the 

 two upper petals broader than the others, and colored veins 

 running through them ; also the upper segment of the calyx 

 ending in a tube, runs down the foot stalk. 3d. The Crane's 

 bill has ten stamens, and as many anthers ; a regular corolla, 

 that is, with the petals alike ; wants the scales of the first, 

 and the colored veins, and the tube running down the foot- 

 stalk of the second. 



The Erodiums consist of hardy plants of no great beauty. 

 The Geraniums present some beautiful species, but many of 

 them are mere weeds, possessing neither use nor beauty, and 

 are natives of different parts of Europe and America. 



The Genus Pelargonium came almost entirely from the 

 Cape of Good Hope, and consist of an immense number of 

 species and varieties. A taste for this tribe seems to per- 

 vade most parts of the civilized world, there being hardly a 

 family in the populous parts of Europe or America, but what 

 have their geraniums as an established part of their house- 

 How are the genera erodium, pelargonium, and geranium distinguish- 

 ed from each other ? From what country are most of the pelargoniums 

 derived 1 



