STUDIES OP PLANT LIFE 



native wilding, for its delicacy and harmless qualities are 

 all that require notice about it. The traveller passes it by 

 with scarcely a commendatory glance; its fleeting pale blue 

 scentless blossoms, which fall at a touch, scarcely attract 

 the little children when gathering flowers by the wayside 

 brooks. It remains with the true lover of flowers, even if 

 they be only homely weeds, to examine and appreciate the 

 inimitable beauty and wisdom shown in their several parts, 

 each so wisely fitted to perform its part according to the 

 Divine Maker's will. 



WOOD GERANIUM Geranium maculatum (L.). 



(PLATE VI.) 



There are but few flowers of the Cranesbill family in 

 Canada. The one most worthy of notice is the Wood 

 Geranium. This is a very ornamental plant; its favorite 

 locality is in open grassy thickets, among low bushes, 

 especially those tracts of country known as " oak openings," 

 where it often reaches to the height of from two to three 

 feet, throwing out many branches adorned with deep lilac 

 flowers; the half-opened buds are very lovely. The blossom 

 consists of five petals, obtuse, and slightly indented on their 

 upper margins, and is lined and delicately veined with 

 purple. The calyx consists of five pointed sepals; stamens 

 ten; the anthers are of a reddish brown; styles five, 

 cohering at the top. When the seed is mature these curl 

 up, bearing the ripe brown seed adhering to the base of 

 each one. The common name, Cranesbill, has been derived 

 from the long grooved and stork-like beak composed of the 

 styles. The Greek name of the plant means a crane. The 

 whole plant is more or less beset with silvery hairs. The 

 leaves are divided into about five principal segments; these 



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