GERANIACE^E. 



Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 137. 



GERANIUM. 



Sepals and petals each 5, equal. Stamens 10, of which the 

 5 fertile ones are alternate with the others and larger. Nectari- 

 ferous glands at the base of the larger stamens. Awns of the 

 carpels with their inner sides glabrous, at length separating 

 elastically from the base of the axis upwards, and becoming cir- 

 cinately revolute. Herbaceous or rarely suffrutescent plants. 

 Leaves palmately lobed. Peduncles 1 -2 flowered. 



451. G. maculatum Linn. sp. pi. 955. Cav. diss. vi. t. 86. f. 2. 

 Bigelow med. bot. i. t. 8. DC. prodr. i. 642. Common in the 

 United States, in low grounds. 



Root perennial, horizontal, thick, rough and knobby. Stem erect, 

 round, clothed with reflexed hairs. Leaves spreading, hairy, palmate, 

 with 3, 5 or 7 lobes, variously cut and toothed at their extremities ; 

 those of the root on long petioles, those at the middle of the stem, 

 opposite and petioled, those at the top, opposite and nearly sessile. 

 Stipules and bracts subulate. Peduncles round, hairy, tumid at base, 

 generally 2-flowered. Sepals 5, oblong, ribbed, mucronate ; the outer- 

 most hairy. Petals 5, obovate, not emarginate, light purple, marked 

 with green at the base. Stamens 10, erect or curving outward, the 

 alternate ones a little longer, with nectariferous glands at the base ; 

 filaments dilated and monadelphous at base ; anthers oblong, decidu- 

 ous, so that the number frequently appears less than 10. Style 

 straight, as long as the stamens ; stigmas 5, at first erect, afterwards 

 recurved. Root a most powerful astringent, containing considerably 

 more tannin than Kino. According to Bigelow, particularly suited 

 to the treatment of such diseases as continue from debility after the 

 removal of their exciting cause. Tincture an excellent local application 

 in sore throat and ulcerations of the mouth. May be used in powder, 

 extract or tincture. 



452. G. Robertianum Linn. sp. pi. 955. E. Bot. t. 1486. 

 Curt.fl. Lond. i. t. 52. DC. prodr. i. 644. A common weed 

 in waste ground, under walls, banks, and everywhere. 



Root tapering. Stems several, spreading in every direction, round, 

 leafy, branched, red, brittle and succulent, a little hairy, chiefly on 1 

 side. Leaves opposite, shining, more or less hairy, on long stalks, 

 ternate, cut in a pedate manner, their outline unequally 5-angled. Pe- 

 duncles lateral and terminal, each bearing 2 bright crimson or occa- 

 sionally white flowers. Calyx brownish, hairy, with 10 angles when 

 closed. Petals obovate, entire. Stamens awl-shaped, smooth. Capsule 

 obovate, downy, carinate, curiously marked at the outer edge with 

 elevated interbranching wrinkles. Seeds perfectly smooth and even. 

 A popular remedy in Wales in nephritic complaints. 

 221 



