GERAXIACE/E 



305 



8-15 mm. The petioles are long, terete, or slightly flattened 

 on the upper surface near the base, and mostly equal in length. 

 In the short hypocotyl and long petioles, G. polyanthus agrees 

 with G. Wallichianum, whereas G. hohemicum and G. san- 

 guineum are types with elongated hypocotyls and short petioles, 

 while in G. amphuloideum both hypocotyl and petioles are 

 elongated. All the above-mentioned however agree in general 

 characters including asymmetry. Others agreeing with the 

 above are G. Traversii, G. pratense, and G. tuberosuin. 1 



The cotjdedons are all broader than long, a circumstance 

 due to the manner of folding in the seed. The larger auricle 

 is on the outside of the coil, and has consequently more room 

 to develop. The apical sinus is due in part at least to a 

 thickening of the chalaza, against which it abuts. Petioles are 

 necessary to admit of the folds of the smaller half of each coty- 

 ledon being accommodated inside the coiled embryo, and after 

 germination to carry the cotyledons up to the light, especially 

 if the hypocotyl is but little developed. 



Geranium Wallichianum, Sioeet 

 (fig. 228). 



Primary root stout, fleshy, colour- 

 less, tapering, furnished with fleshy 

 flexuose lateral rootlets. 



Hypocotyl erect, terete, stout, 

 fleshy, hairy or downy, pale towards 

 the base and reddish upwards, partly 

 or quite subterranean, about 5'5 mm. 

 long. 



Cotyledons obliquely reniform, 

 deeply cordate at the base, sliallowly 

 sinuate at the apex with the midrib 

 excurrent in the form of a small 

 tooth, unequal- sided, five-nerved (the 

 three inner nerves the strongest), 

 thinly pubescent above, glabrous be- 

 neath, densely ciliate at the margin, 

 light opaque green, obscurely reticulate; lamina I'l cm. long, 

 1-9 cm. wide, about equal, but the two halves of each cotyledon are 

 unequal. 



1 See Irmisch, Bol. Zcitung, 1874, p. 545. 



FIG. 228. 



Geranium Wallichianum. 

 Nat. size. 



