GERANIUM FAMILY. 95 



4. FLCBRKEA, FALSE MERMAID. (For Flcerk-e, a Hprman bot- 



anist.) (1) 



F. proserpinacoides, Willd. A stiiall ami insignificant ])lant ; leaf 

 segments ;i-5, lanceolate and entire, or rarely :i-;:}-cleft ; the axillarj- and 

 peduncled flower incon.spicuous (in spring and sunuuer), tlie oblong petals 

 shorter than the calyx and entire. Marshes and river banks, N. and \V. 



5. dXALIS, WOOD SORREL. (Greek: sorer, from the acid juice.) 

 An attractive genus of small herbs, vi'ith many cultivated species. 



« rcdiincles \-fiowered ; petals lohUe, red, or variegated. 



O. Acetos^Ua, Linn. True W. The leafstalks and 1 -flowered 

 sc ipes 2'-4' high from a creeping, scaly -toothed rootstock ; flower rather 

 large, white, with delicate reddish veins. Common in mossy woods N. 21 



0. varidbilis, Jacq. Is more hairy ; leaflets obovate and scarcely 

 notched, commonly crimson beneath, only 1' long ; scapes short, .3' ; petals 

 lA' long, white, or pink-red with a yellowish base. Cape of Good Hope. 



0. versicolor, Linn. From small bulbs, sends up slender stems, 2'-3' 

 high ; leaflets almost linear, notched at the end ; petals 1' long, white or 

 tinged with rose, with bright, pink-rtd margins outside, so that the blos- 

 som i.s red when rolled up in the bud or closed in shade, but white above 

 when it opens in sunshine. Cape of Good Hope. 



0. fidva, Linn. From a strong bulb, sends u]i to the surface a short 



scaly stem, bearing thick flattish leafstalks and short scapes ; the leaflets 



U-10 and linear; petals nearly 1' long, yellow, often edged with reddish. 



Cape of Good Hope. t> 7 ? .i ^ 7 



' ' * * Peduncles •l-x.-floincred. 



■^Leaflets 4 or 7-10; floivcrs crimson to purplish ; stemless, hairy. H 



0. tetraphylla, Cav. Leaflets 4, obcordate, with a brownish blotch or 

 band wlun young. Mexico. O. Di'ri'Ei of gardens. 



0. lasidndra, (iraham. Leaflets 7-10, oblanceolate, 3' long by 1' broad, 



obtuse and entire at apex ; scapes O'-IS' high, with a many-flowered 



umbel. Mexico, ;. ^ , ., 



t- -<- Leaflets •>. 



-M- Flowers yelloic. 



O. cornicul^ta, Linn. Yellow W., Ladies' Sorrel.- \° high, pu- 

 bescent, with sliarp, oppressed hairs ; stipules round or truncate, eiliate ; 

 peduncles 2-()-flowered ; pods long, erect. Rare eastward, indigenous 

 Mo. and S.W. ; but 



Var. stricta, Sav., is extremely common ; stems erect, nearly smooth to 

 very villous; leafy ; stipules 0. 



Var. lUHUA is a purjile-leaved form in cultivation. 



O. recilrva, Ell. Like liie first variety of the preceding ; leaflets larger 

 {l'~\V broad), usually with a brownisli maruiii ; flowers larger (6"-8" 

 long); Vv\m. to S. Ill', and S. 



0. Ortgiest, Regel. Stems purplish-red, erect, 1° high, rather fleshy, 

 beconiini; tough or woody below ; leaflets obovate, with 'i-pointed lob(s, 

 tlie notch broad, olive-green above, jnirple beneath ; flowers small, in 

 cymes on long axillary peduncles. I'eru. 



0. Valdiviensis, Ham. Stem smooth, 1° higli, luancliing at base ; 

 leaflets obcordate. the lobes very round ; petals deep yellow, with reddish 

 veins, especially outside. Chile. 



++ ■<-<• Flowers violet, purple, or rose-red. 



O. viol^cea, Linn. Violet W. Leafstalks and slender scape from 

 a scaly Indb, the flowers several in an umbel, middle-sized, violet. "21 

 Conmion S., rarer N., in rocky or sandy soil. In common cultivation. 



