86 THE HORSESHOE GERANIUM. 



The Seed has a rough shell [testa) entirely filled by the 

 embryo whose 2 cotyledons are nicely folded together and 

 bent over on the radicle (8, 9). There is no albumen.* 



The PLAi^ of the flower (1) shows 6 circles, each with 

 its 5 members all alternating: 1st, the sepals; 2d, the petals; 

 3d, the honey glands; 4th and 5th, the stamens; 6th, the 

 OTaries. 



The Name Geranium comes from the Gr. gercmos, a 

 crane, because of a fancied resemblance of the fruit to the 

 beak of that bird. The species in hand is G. maciOMiim, or 

 Spotted Cranesbill, named for the pale blotches often seen on 

 its leaves. Another common species is G. Bolertidniim, the 

 Herb Robert, with smaller and redder flowers.f These and 

 100 other similar species liave 'perfectly regular flowers, with 

 ten perfect stamens, and the fruit a regma. 



XX. THE HORSESHOE GERANIUM. 



Description. —Let us now interrogate that popular 

 house-plant, the Horseshoe Geranium (known by the brown 

 ring on its rounded leaves), and learn whether it be indeed 

 a Geranium, or of some other genus of this splendid Order. 



Analysis. — The Leaf Regiox. — The plant before us 

 was reared from a cutting ; hence its roots are artificial and 

 give no proof of their native form. The stem lives and 

 grows from year to year, becoming a woody branching shrub 

 with a greenish bark. 



It is said that in seedlings the earlier and low^r leaves are 



* In seeds where the albumen is wanting, the seed-lobes or cotyledons become 

 thick and fleshy with starchy matter, infolding the embryo for its protection while 

 sleeping, feeding it with their own substance in its early growth, and finally appear- 

 ing, as usual, a pair of leaves, the first which the plantlet unfolds. 



t The pretty flowers are roseate and penciled with purple. The leaves are more 

 finely divided and cut, emitting a strong odor wheu handled. Late in the season they 

 are subject to a parasitic fungus, appearing sprinkled with darkish specks. 



