374 THE KINDS OF PLANTS 



G. Robertianum, Linn. Herb Robert. Annual or biennial, 1 ft. or some- 

 times less, somewhat hairy, spreading: leaves 3- or 5-divided into pinnatifid 

 divisions: fls. % in. or less across, pink-red. Moist places; common. 



2. PELARGONIUM. GEBANIUM of gardens. 



Somewhat fleshy, strong-scented plants, differing from Geranium in 

 having a somewhat 2-lipped corolla, and stamens with anthers less than 10. 



P. hortorum, Bailey. Garden geranium. Fish geranium. Fig. 39. Stem 

 somewhat succulent and hairy: leaves orbicular or reniform, crenate-lobed, 

 often with bands of different colors: flowers in umbel-like clusters, deflexed in 

 bud of many colors, often double. South Africa, but of hybrid origin. 



P. peltatum, Ait. Ivy-leaved geranium. Trailing: filaments 10, some 

 being sterile: petals pink or white, nearly equal: leaves more or less peltate, 

 nearly or quite smooth, 5-angled or -lobed. 



P. fragrans, Willd. Nutmeg geranium. Stems somewhat shrubby, 

 and the branches straggling, thick, and softly hairy: leaves small, rounded, 

 very downy, fragrant: flowers small, white. 



P. graveolens, Ait. Rose geranium. Somewhat shrubby: filaments 10, 

 some sterile: leaves divided palmately, the 5 or 7 lobes more or less toothed, 

 revolute and rough-edged: petals not equal, but 2 upper larger: flowers 

 umbelled, small, pinkish-lavender, veined with darker: plant very fragrant. 



3. 6XALIS. OXALIS. WOOD-SORREL. 



Low often tuberous herbs with small flowers which have no glands on 

 the torus-disk: leaves digitate, of 3 or more leaflets, usually mostly radical: 

 flowers (opening in sun) with 5 sepals and petals and 10 somewhat mona- 

 delphous stamens, the alternate ones shorter: pod 5-loculed, often opening 

 elastically. The following have 3 obcordate leaflets, closing at night. 



O. stricta, Sav. Common yellow oxalis. Fig. 300. Stem leafy and branch- 

 ing: peduncles bearing 2-6 small yellow flowers. Common in fields. 



O. Acetosella, Linn. Wood-sorrel. Scape 2-5 in. high, from a creeping 

 rootstock: flowers white, and pink-veined. Deep woods. 



O. violacea, Linn. Scape 5-10 in. high wi?h an umbel of several bright 

 violet flowers, from a scaly bulb. Woods South, and a common window- 

 garden plant. 



4. TROP^OLUM. NASTURTIUM of gardens. 



Tender, mostly climbing herbs (by means of leafstalks), with one of the 

 5 petals extended into a long, nectar-bearing yellow spur: petals usually 5, 

 with narrow claws, often bearded; stamens 8, of different shapes; carpels 

 3, indehiscent in fruit. The following (from Peru) have peltate orbicular 

 leaves (Fig. 140). 



T. ma jus, Linn. Climbing nasturtium. Tall-climbing: flowers yellow, 

 red, cream -white, and other colors; petals not pointed. 



T. minus, Linn. Dwarf nasturtium. Fig. 211. Not climbing: petals 

 with a sharp point. 



