GeranimH. GKIIANI ACE.15. 93 



cither dilated or monRdelphous ftt the base. Ovary 3-5-lobed and 3-5-celle(l, 

 with a central axis. Ovules anatropous. Seeds wholly or nearly filled by the 

 embryo. 



A rather largo order, owing to the size of a few leading genera, widely distributed over the 

 world, mostly in wann-temperate and subtropical climates ; many with handsome (lowers and 

 cultivated for ornament. Ttio rei)resentation m North America is small, in California meagre. 

 The following irregular-flowered genera may claim admission. 



Impatirns, Linn., renrcsentod in gardens by the IJalsam, I. Raij^amina, and in the Ea.stcrn 

 United States by the .Icwel-wccds, 1. kui.va and 1. i'Ar,l,ir)A, wlii<;li rango northwestward to 

 Washington Territory. The only indieation of them near California is the mention of an unde- 

 termineu species in Dr. C. L. Anderson's list of Nevada plants (in the Nevada State Geologist's 

 Report for 1870 ?), no station a.ssigned. The ^enus is familiarly known by its extremely irregular 

 handsome flowers, the larger piece of which is a spurred sac, and by the capsule bursting elaati- 

 cally, breaking up at the touch into five twisting valves and a central axis ; the stems succulent 

 and translucent. 



Trop.boi,um, liinn., the familiar Nasturtium of the gardens, of South American origin ; one 

 sep.al conspicuously spurred, and tlio leaves i)oltate. T. MAJUS, the common species, is likely to 

 become spontaneous in the southern part of the State. 



Pki.aroonium, L'Her., to which belong the so-called Ceraniums of garden and house cultiva- 

 tion, natives of the Cape of Good Hope. Hero, again, one sepal has a spur ; but it adheres to 

 the pedicel so as to escape cursory notice. 1'. gravkoi,ens, the Hose Geranium, P. inquinans, 

 Scarlet Geranium, an<l P. zonale, Horse-shoo Geranium, with their mixtures, are the species most 

 disposed to escape into waste grounds near dwellings, in the southern portion of the Stat«. 



TninE I. GER.VNIEiE. Sepals imbricated in tlie bud, and yictils generally so. Carpels 5, 

 2-ovnled but one-seeded, separating elastically at maturity from the long-beaked and indu- 

 rated central axis from below upward ; the styles fonning long tails which V)ecome revo- 

 hito upwards or spirally twisted. Cotyledons convoluto-i>laited anil incuml)ent on the 

 ratlide. — Herbs or shrubs, mostly with aroniatio or strong-scented leaves, furnishod with 

 stipules. 



1. Qeraniura. Fertile stamens 10. Tails of the carnels not bearded. Flower regular. 



2. Erodium. Fertile stamens 5. Tails of the carpels beanlod inside. Flower regular. 



PELAUfJONiUM has Stamens about 7, some of these without anthers, and flower irregular. 



Tribe II. LIMNANTHE/E. Sepals valvato and pctnls convolute in the bud. Fleshy and 

 indehiscent carpels distinct (except their common style) or soon l>ecoming so, one-ovuled. 

 Embryo straight : cotyledons fleshy and hemispherical, filling the seed, cordate at base, 

 covering the short radicle. — Ten<ler annuals ; with alternate dissected leaves and no stip- 

 ules. Juice with more or less Cruciferous pungency. 



3. Llmnanthes. Sepals, petals, and carpels 5. Stamens 10. (In Fuerkka all are in threes.) 



Tribe III. OXALIDEvE. Senals imbricated and petals mo.stly convolute in the bud. Car- 

 pels combined into a 5-celled and few - many-ovuled ovary ; the fruit when a capsule 

 loculicidal : styles mostly distinct. Embryo straight in a thin albumen : cotyle<lon8 

 plane. — Flowers regular. Leaves mostly compound, with leaflets entire or notched at 

 the end : stipules rare. Juice acid. 



4. Ozalis. Sepals, petals, and styles 5. Stamens 10. Leaves in ours 3-foliolatc. 



1. GERANIUM, Linn. CRANKsnii.i,. 

 Stamens 10 with anthers ; a gland behind the biv«;o of oach of the f) shorter ones : 

 filaments slender, in onr species bearded nt base. Ovary r)-lobed, 5-celled : style 5- 

 lobed at the summit; the lobos stigmatic on the inner face. Carpels at maturity 

 separating from the long beaked axis, borne on the recurving tails (being the several 

 styles splitting away from the persistent beak), these beardless : the fruiting carpels 

 roundi8li-ol)long, obtuse or abruptly acute atba.se, opening down the face. — An- 

 nual or perennial herbs ; with enlarged joints, palmately lobed and mostly opposite 

 leaves, scarious stipules, and 1 - 3-flowerod peduncles. Flowers violet or rose- 

 coloroil or white. 



