GERANIAOEM. 37 



sitipetalous 5, either sterile antherless, or ofteuer the 2 posterior 

 fertile. Gynfeceum fi-uit and seed of Geranium (or Erodium). — 

 Herbs imdershrubs or shrubs, glabrous or pubescent, often viscous, 

 fi-agrant, aromatic, sometimes fleshy and succulent ; leaves opposite 

 or alternate, entire, dentate, lobate or variously dissected ; stipules 

 lateral ; flowers cymose at summit of peduncle ; cymes sometimes 

 umbelliform, ofteuer 1 -parous, more rarely few or 1 -flowered, 

 {North, east and south Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.) 

 See p. 7. 



III. NEURADE^. 



6. Neurada L. — Flowers regular; receptacle concave cupular, 

 sepals 5, and petals same innumber, small, imbricate iuserted at mar- 

 gin of receptacle. Stamens 10, 2-seriate perigynously inserted with 

 perianth in the throat of receptacle ; filaments fi-ee, very short, dilated 

 at base; anthers introrse, 2-rimose. Carpels usually 10 (or 5-9) affixed 

 to interior of receptacle ; germens sessile or foveolate inserted, subhori- 

 zontally patent ; styles erect at base widely subulate, afterwards coher- 

 ing among themselves, capitellate stigmatiferous at apex ; ovule in 

 germens solitary descendent (subhorizontal as to flower) ; micropyle 

 extrorse superior. Fruit carpels 10 or fewer dry, becoming hians 

 above, 1 -sperm ous, inserted in cavity of persistent accrescent dry recep- 

 tacle, depressed conical and much echinate, induviate, siu-mouuted by 

 spinescent styles. Seed curved ; embryo exalbumiuous ; cotelydous 

 liuear-oblong rather flat auriculate at base ; radicle short decurved, 

 near axis of receptacle, plantule germinating within induviate fruit. — 

 Anmiallanate ramified herbs, branches becoming ligneous, decumbent ; 

 leaves alternate lobate petiolate; stipules (?) lateral minute 1, 2; 

 flowers axillary, solitary, pedunculate, surrounded at base with epi- 

 calyx of 5 bracts alternating with calyx. {North Africa, south- 

 western Asia.) See p. 9. 



7. Grielum L. — Flowers (nearly of Neurada) ecalyculate. Petals 

 5 {of Geranium or 3Ionsonia), large, contorted. Stamens 10, perigy- 

 nous. Carpels 5-10 and fruit of Neurada. — Humble annual cane- 

 sceut difl'use ramified herbs ; branches decumbent ; leaves alternate 

 petiolate, pinnate, lobate, or decompound ; lobes linear ; stipules 

 small or ; flowers axillary, solitary long pedunculate. Other 

 characters of Neurada. {iSouth Africa.) See p. 10. 



