Geranium. GERANIACE^. 



93 



either dilated or monadelphous at the base. Ovary 3-5-lobed and 3-5-celled, 

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

 embryo. 



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

 world, mostly in warm-temperate and subtropical climates ; many with handsome liowers and 

 cultivated for ornament. The representation in North America is small, in California meagre. 

 The following irregular-flowered genera may claim admission. 



Impatiens, Linn., represented in gardens by the Balsam, I. Balsamina, and in the Eastern 

 United States by the Jewel-weeds, I. fulva and I. pallida, which range northwestward to 

 "Washington Territoiy. The only indication of them near California is the mention of an unde- 

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

 Report for 1870 ?), no station assigned. The genus is familiarly known by its extremely irregular 

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

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

 and translucent. 



TROPiEOLUM, Linn., the familiar Nasturtium of the gardens, of South American origin ; one 

 sepal conspicuously spurred, and the leaves peltate. T. majus, the common species, is likely to 

 become spontaneous in the southern part of the State. 



Pelargonium, L'Her., to which belong the so-called Geraniums of garden and house cultiva- 

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

 the pedicel so as to escape cursory notice. P. graveolexs, the Rose Geranium, P. inquinans, 

 Scarlet Geranium, and P. zonale. Horse-shoe Geranium, with their mixtures, are the species most 

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



Tribe L GERANIE/E. Sepals imbricated in the bud, and petals generally so. Carpels 5, 

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

 rated central axis irom below upward ; the styles foi-ming long tails which become re vo- 

 lute upwards or spirally twisted. Cotyledons convolute-plaited and incumbent on the 

 radicle. — Herbs or shrubs, mostly with aromatic or strong-scented leaves, furnished with 

 stipules. 



1. Geranium. Fertile stamens 10. Tails of the carpels not bearded. Flower regular. 



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



Pelargonium has stamens about 7, some of these without anthers, and flower irregular. 



Tribe n._ LIMNANTHE^. Sepals valvate and petals convolute in the bud. Fleshy and 

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

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

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

 ules. Juice with more or less Cruciferous pungency. 



3. Limnanthes. Sepals, petals, and carpels 5. Stamens 10. (In Fl(ERKEA all are in threes.) 



Tribe IIL OXALIDEJ;. Sepals imbricated and petals mostly 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 : cotyledons 

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

 the end : stipules rare. Juice acid. 



4. Oxalis. Sepals, petals, and styles 5. Stamens 10. Leaves in ours 3-foliolate. 



1. GERANIUM, Linn. Cranesbill. 

 Stamens 10 with anthers ; a gland behind the base of each of the 5 shorter ones : 

 filaments slender, in our species bearded at base. Ovary 5-lobed, 5-celled : style 5- 

 lobed at the summit; the lobes stigmatic on the inner flice. 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 

 roundish-oblong, obtuse or abruptly acute at base, opening down the face. — An- 

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

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

 colored or white. 



