THE ABT ALBUM OF NEW ZEALAND FLORA. 



73 



on the jieduncles and pedicels. It is common to both the Islands in momitainous or hilly 

 situations. It has small, pale-pink flowers, and smaller leaves than G. dlssectum. 

 Altogether it is of a much more slender hahit, with very ol)scurely-pitted seeds. 



3. GERANIUM SESSILIFLORUM {Cav.) The Stemless-Flowered Geranium. 



Specific Chaeactee. — Stemless or nearly so ; root, stout; 

 branches, if present, very short, and leaves more or less 

 eorered with silky hairs, which are .spreading or retrorse on 

 the petioles, pedicels, and sepals. Leaves, mostly radical, very 

 numerous, on long slender petioles, 3-6 in. long, orbicular, 

 cut to or below the middle into cuncate 5-7-fid lobes; stiinUcs 

 broad, membranous. Peduncles short, from the root, or 



from branches which are rarely longer than the leaves. 

 Flowers, between tliose of G. dissectiim (var. patulum) and 

 microphiillum. Sepals awned, very hairy. Petals refuse, 

 longer than the sepals. Carpels even, pilose. Seeds quite 

 even or minutely punctulate, not pitted. — Handbouk of the 

 New Zealand Flora, p. .37. 



Description, etc. — This plant is indigenous to the mountain regions of the Middle 

 Island, Otago, Chalky Bay, and the terraces of the Kowai River. It is also found in 

 Tasmania, on the Australian Alps, and in South America. It scarcely differs from G. 

 dissectiim (var. pilosum), except in habit and the smooth seeds. The specific name that 

 it bears is in allusion to the almost stemless growth of the flowers, the peduncles springing 

 up from the root or from very short Ijranches, rarely longer than the leaves. 



4. GERANIUM MOLLE {Ziim.) The Soft or Tender-leaved Geranium. 



Specific Chaeactee. — A procumbent, much-branched, 

 slender plant, covered with soft spreading hairs. Leaves, 1 in. 

 broad, orbicular or rcniform, more or less 5-9-lobed, the 

 segnu'nts 3-5-fid ; petioles long; stipules very broad and 

 membranous. Peduncles, 2-Howered, with broad membranous 



bracts. Flowers, ^-j in. broad. Sepals broadly ovat:', not 

 awned. Petals bifid, longer than the sepals, pink. Carpels 

 wrinkled, quite glabrous. Seeds even, not dotted. — Handbook 

 of the New Zealand Flora, p. 37. 



Descripton, etc. — This little plant is indigenous to both Islands. It is common in 

 Europe, and extends eastAvard to the Himalaya Mountains ; but, strange to relate, it is 

 not native of any part of Australia or America. This species is entirely distinct in 

 character from G. dlssectum, having leaves reniform (kidney shaped), and being more in 

 accordance with the accepted form of geranium leaf. Its flowers are small and pink, 

 only two of which are displayed on the same stem. The specific name bears reference 

 to the soft, tender, and mollient habit of the plant. A geranium with pure azure-blue 

 flowers has been found at New River Heads, Invercargill, similar in other respects to 

 G. molle, but with much heavier foliage. 



