PELARGONIUM QUERCIFOLIUM- OAK-LEAVED GERANIUM, 



CLASS, MONADELPHIA ; ORDER, HEPTANDRIA. 

 NATURAL ORDER, GERANIACE^E. 



GEN. CHAR. Calyx, five parted, upper divisions much the 

 broadest, terminating in a funnel-shaped, capillary nectary. Corol, 

 five petalled, irregular, upper petals very showy, broader than 

 the lower, and covered with colored veins. Arils, five, each 

 one seeded and awned. Anthers, seven. SPEC. CHAR. Umbels, 

 sub-many-flowered. Leaves, simulating the oak. Filaments, 

 ascending at the apex. 



In the description of the Geranium Robertianium, we reviewed 

 the prominent characteristics of this natural and exceedingly 

 beautiful order. This as well as the most of our conservatory 

 species, is a native of the Cape of Good Hope. This geranium 

 will show the celebrated spiral air vessels to very good advantage ; 

 and those who are curious to witness the secret workings of vege- 

 tation will find much to learn and admire in its structure. For 

 this purpose, place one of the petals upon a piece of perfectly 

 smooth and flat glass, such as is usually furnished for the trans- 

 parent stage of a microscope, wet it with water, and then lay 

 over it another flat piece of glass. Press the two firmly together, 

 and by degrees all the air will be squeezed out of the petals and 

 it will become transparent. With a good magnifying power all 

 the air vessels of the veins may be distinctly observed, looking 

 like fine threads of silver wire twisted upon a spiral spring. 



