GERANIACEAE ERODIUM 



579 



Injurious properties. Species of Erodium, like those of Stipa, have in some 

 cases sharp pointed calluses which bury themselves in the flesh and inflict 

 injuries to animals. Our common species is but slightly troublesome in this 

 way. The carpels of the Erodium get into the fleece of sheep and thus the 

 wool is rendered somewhat less salable. 



B. moschatum is injurious. 



Fig. 320. Musk Erodium 

 (Erodium moschatum). (After 

 Fitch). 



Fig. 319. Hemlock Stork's Bill (Erodium 

 cicutarium). This widely distributed plant 

 sometimes causes mechanical injuries in ani- 

 mals. (Charlotte M. King). 



OXALIDACEAE 



Generally herbs, frequently with bulbs; acid juice; leaves palmate, with ob- 

 cordate leaflets; flowers regular, 5-merous; stamens 10-15; ovary 5-celled; car- 

 pels with few or many ovules, loculicidal. A small order of 250 species chiefly 

 tropical. 



Oxalis L. Sorrel, Oxalis 



Annual or perennial herbs with sour juice; often bulbous with alternate, 

 digitately compound leaves of 3 leaflets; flowers in umbel-like clusters, solitary 

 or several flowered, regular, often dimorphic or trimophic ; sepals 5 ; petals 5 ; 



