QERANIACEjE. 



25 



In tliis case tlie petiole may be dilated into a phyllodium at the 

 summit of wliicli the limb may be reduced to a very small size or 



O.valis pnrpnrata. 



C ' 



Fig. 65. Habit. Fig. 66. Habit. 



even disappear altogether. But what is more variable in this genus 

 is the organization and form of the stem. This is sometimes aerial, 

 cylindrical, and woody or herbaceous. 

 Elsewhere it consists of a rhizome more 

 or less swollen and fleshy in the cortical 

 parts (fig. 64, 65), its evolutions jH-esenting 

 pretty numerous variations. It may be- 

 come a reservoir of sap and present a cjdindri- 

 eal form, thick, or nearly globular, resembling 

 a full bulb (fig. 68) like one or several roots 

 which Ihou take the form of conical taproots 

 and certain buds, sometimes terminal some- 

 times axillary fig. (04,65). These buds, be- 

 coming quite fleshy and covered Mith scars, 



may appear like tubers of the Potato (fig. 68), and in this case 

 especially they become edible. The flowers' are axillary, solitary 



O.vttlis {BiojyJii/ftnii) sensltira. 



^i^ 



Fig. 67. DoUisccnt fruit. 



Sleep-phenomena have Ijecn noticed in a great ' Wliife yellow, pink, piiqjie, or diverse 



numTjcr of speoies of Oxalis with plurifoliolato coloured, or aluided. 

 leaves (fig. 65). 



VOL. v. E 



