98 THE shepherd's purse. 



the genera are often too discordant for a liajipy family. They there- 

 fore resolve themselves into several clans or suborders. The five 

 genera last treated, viz., Geranium, Pelargonium, Oxalis, Impatiens, 

 and Tropseolum, represent at least four of these suborders, which for 

 a long time were regarded as Orders. (See Botanist and Florist ^ 

 p. 67, flora.) The following formula, brief and easily remembered, 

 will, with few exceptions, characterize all the Geraniacese : 



Herbs or shrubs. 



Flowers perfect, symmetrical. 



Stamens as many or twice as many as the sepals, often some of them 

 abortive. 



Carpels and cells as many as the sepals, separating from a persist- 

 ent axis or carpophore. 



Seeds few, with no albumen (except in Oxalis). 



Scientific Terms.— Fimbriate. Peltate. Suborder. Unguiculate. 



XXIV. THE SHEPHERD'S PURSE. 



Description. — This is a homely little weed intruding 

 itself into gardens and fields everywhere unbidden, yet illus- 

 trating the principles of Botany and the mysteries of vege- 

 table life quite as well as loftier plants. Beginning to 

 blossom in early Spring, it continues developing flower after 

 flower as it rises higher and higher, until fruit and flower 

 together embellish the long racemes. 



Analysis. — The Leaf Region^. — The student will now 

 require no further aid in recording the analysis of the root 

 and stem ; the longevity, venation and inflorescence ; the 

 presence or absence of stipules, petioles, bracts, hairs, and 

 branches ; and the position and arrangement of the leaves. 



The Z/eaves are of two forms. The radical are oblong 

 and pinnatifid or feather-cleft ; the cauline are sagittate or 

 arrow-shaped {sagitta, an arrow), and amplexicaul (stem- 

 clasping). Here observe, whence do the branches arise ? 

 (p. 90). What is the position of the racemes ? What is the 

 procession of the flowering ? 



