GERANIACE^E. GERANIUM TRIBE. 123 



wood, which was used for making spears and other 

 sharp-pointed instruments. 



1. ACER (Maple). 



1. A. campestre (Common Maple). Leaves 5-lobed ; 

 lobes bluntish, scarcely cut ; dusters of flowers erect. 

 Woods and hedges \ a small tree, with a very rugged 

 corky bark, full of deep cracks. El. May, June. Tree. 



2. A. Pseudo-pldtanus (Greater Maple or Sycamore). 

 Leaves 5-lobed ; lobes unequally serrated ; clusters of 

 flowers drooping. A large and handsome tree, intro- 

 duced into England before the fourteenth century, and 

 now completely naturalized. ; The name Sycamore was 

 given to it by the older botanists, who erroneously 

 believed it to be identical with the Sycamore or Mul- 

 berry-Jig of Palestine, which it somewhat resembles in 

 the size and form of its leaves. Fl. May. Tree. 



ORD. XX. GEBAKLACE.E. GERANIUM TRIBE. 



Sepals 5, not falling off, ribbed, overlapping when in 

 bud ; petals 5-clawed, twisted when in bud ; stamens 10, 

 sometimes alternately imperfect, generally united by 

 their filaments ; ovary of 5 carpels placed round a long 

 awl-shaped beak ; styles 5, united to the beak ; stigmas 5 ; 

 fruit beaked, separating into 5 capsules, each of which 

 is one-seeded, and terminates in the hardened style, 

 which finally separates at the base and curls up, carrying 

 the capsule with it. An extensive tribe, consisting of 

 herbaceous plants and shrubs with an aromatic or resi- 

 nous flavour and astringent qualities, abounding at the 

 Cape of Good Hope and in the temperate regions of the 

 northern hemisphere. To the genus Pelargonium belong 

 the innumerable varieties of handsome flowering plants 

 which under the name of Geraniums are so ornamental 

 as greenhouse or window flowers. The roots of one or 

 two species are eatable, and some are used in medicine. 



