578 



A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY. 



a. GERANIACE/E OR GERANIUM FAMILY. The 

 plants are herbs with alternate or opposite, usually stipulate leaves, 

 regular and perfect flowers, and capsular fruit (Fig. 236, C). 



Geranium maculatutn is a perennial herb (Fig. 322) with a 

 short, thick, horizontal rhizome, from which arises a simple, some- 



FIG. 322. Geranium maculatum showing typical dicotyledonous flowers 

 and the s-parted, reticulately-veined leaves. 



what branching, hairy stem, with 3- to 5-parted, variously toothed 

 and cleft, petiolate leaves, those on the upper part of the stem 

 being opposite ; the flowers are regular and 5-merous, occurring 

 singly or in twos in the axils of the leaves; the petals are rose- 

 purple and hairy at the base ; the fruit is a dehiscent capsule ; the 



