GERANIACE.*:. ((iERANILM FAMILY.) 103 



except in Oxalis. Flowers mostly 5-merons and the sepals usually dis- 

 tinct. Leaves never punctate. An order not easily defnu-d, and includ- 

 ing several stron;jjly marked tribes or suborders which have been rcarded 

 by many botanists as distinct. 



Tribe I. GERANIK^. (Geranium Family proper.) Flowers regular, 5-Tneron«. the 

 sepals iiiibiitato in the bud, persistent. Glnixls of the disk 5, alternate witli the petals. 

 Stamens somewliat united. Ovary deeply lobed; carpels 5, 2-ovuled, 1-seeded, sepa- 

 rating elastically with their long styles, when mature, from the elongated axis. Co- 

 tyledons plicate, incumbent on the radicle. — Herbs (our species) with more or less 

 lobed or divided leaves, stipules, and astringent roots. 



1. Geranium. Stamens with anthers 10, rarely 5. The recurving bases of the styles or 



tails of the carpels in fruit naked inside. 



2. £ro(liuni. Stamens with anthers ouly 5. Tails of the carpels in fruit bearded inside, 



often spirally twisted. 

 Tribe II. L-IMNANTHE^. Flowers regular, .3-merous (in Floerkea), the persistent 

 sepals valvate. Glands alternate with the petals. Stamens distinct. Carpels nearly 

 distinct, with a common style, 1-ovuled, 1-seeded, at length fleshy and indehiscent, not 

 beaked, separating from the very short axis. Embryo straight ; cotyledons very thick ; 

 radicle very short. — Low tender annuals, with alternate pinnate leaves and no 

 stipules. 



3. Floerkea. Sepals, minute pistils, and lobes of the ovary 3 ; stamens 6. 



Tribe III. OXALIDE^. (Sorrel Family ) Flowersregular,5-merous, the persist- 

 ent sepals imbricate. Glands none. Stamens 10, often united at base. Stigmas capi- 

 tate. Fruit a 5-cclled loculicidal pod (in Oxalis); cells 2 -several-seeded. Embryo 

 straight, in a little fleshy albumen. — Leaves compound (3-foliolate in our species); 

 juice sour. 



4. Oxalis. Styles 5, separate. Pod oblong ; the valves not falling away. Leaflets usually 



obcordate. 



Tribe TV. BAI.SAM:INE.<E. (Balsam Family.) Flowers irregular (.5-merous a.s to 

 the stamens and pistil), the petals and colored sepals fewer in number, deciduous, the 

 larger sepal with a large sac or spur. Glands none. Stamens 5, distinct, short. Fruit 

 a fleshy 5-ceUed pod (in Impatiens) ; cells several-seeded. Embryo straight. — Tender 

 and very succulent herbs, with simple leaves and no stipules. 



5. Impatiens* Lateral petals unequally 2-lobed. Pod bursting elastically into 5 valves. 



1. GERANIUM, Tourn. Cranesdill, 



Stamens 10 (sometimes only 5 in n. 3), all with perfect anthers, the 5 lnnc:er 

 with glands at their base (alternate with the petals). Styles smooth in.sidc in 

 fruit when they separate from the axis. — Stems forking. Peduncles 1-3- 

 flowered, (An old Greek name, from y4pai>os, a crane; the long fruit-bearing 

 beak thought to resemble the bill of that bird.) 



* Root stock perennial. 



1. G. macul^tum, L. (Wild Craxesbill.) Stem erect, hairy ; leaves 

 about 5-parted, the wedge-shaped divisions lobed and cut at the end ; sepals 

 slender-pointed; petals entire, light purple, bearded on the claw {^ long)- — 

 Open woods and fields. April -July. — Leaves somewhat blotched with 

 whitish as they grow old. 



-* * Root biennial or annual ; Jlou-ers small. 

 -*- Leaves ternatcli/ much-dissected ; heavi/ scented. 



2. G. Roberti^num, L. (Herb Robert.) Sparsely hairy, diffuse, 

 Btrong-scented ; leaves 3-divided or pedately 5-divided. the divi.«;ions twice pin- 



