OF.nANIACEM. 



Pelargonium^ (tig. 15-17) has been reasonably defined as con- 

 sisting of Geraniums with irregular flowers. The sepals, five in 

 number, are disposed in quincuncial prjefloration in the bud, sepal 2 be- 

 ing posterior and sepals 1 and 3 anterior. These two latter, like sepals 



Felargonitim iiiqiiiiiaiis. 



Fiij. 15. JjOTig. sect, 

 of flower (ij). 



Fig. 17. Dehiscent fruit (a). 



Fi"'. 16. Pia!»ram, 



4 and 5, Avhich they cover, are inserted by a narrow horizontal base as 

 in the ju'ecoding genera, while the posterior has a peculiar form and 

 mode of insertion. The highly developed base is much curved and con- 

 cave above, so that its insertion has the shape of a horseshoe with long 

 branches very near each other. Between this base and the corresponding 

 side of the receptacle, which is furrowed, is found a long tubulor 

 cavity whose inner surface is glandular towards the bottom, and which 

 forms a spur united or adnate to the pedicel." The corolla is also 

 irregular, formed of five petals alternate with the sepals, and im- 

 bricated in the bud. The two posterior are alike, as arc also the 

 two lateral which they envelop in pra}floratiou ; but these have not 

 generally exactly the same colour, form, nor size as the two posterior 



Fleshy plants witli defoliate tliorny petioles, and 

 caducous or sessile limbs, small. 



« L'her. Gci-aii. t. 7-35, 43, 44.— DC. Proi!i: 

 i. 049.— Spach, Siiil. a Biiffuii, in. 307.— Endl. 

 Ocii. n. G048.— Fayeii, Orgnnog. 59, t. 13.— II. 

 l!x. in VuijvrFttm.Xut. 400.— B. H. Ge//. 273, n. 

 C (incl. ; CampijUii Sweet, Cicmiium Sweet, Cur- 

 tiisiiia EcKL. et Zevm. Dibrarliia EcKi,. et Zeyu. 

 Dimania .Sweet, Emmrpha Ecicr. Gi-ciiviltia 

 Sweet, Iloarca Sweet, Isopctnlum EcKt. /<//- 



/ciiisom'a Sweet, Mi/rrhUlium Eckl. Otidia 

 Sweet, Tcrhtera Eckl. Thymalanthus Sweet, 

 roh/actlum Eckl. et Zevh, Polgcliiwia Tuiicz. 

 St'ymotiria Sweet). 



2 Sometimes wc sec the flowers of Pclanjonhim 

 provided with three spurs of this kind, two of 

 which are accidental, situated on tlie anterior 

 side of the pedicel ; tile sepals 1 and 3 may in 

 this case acquire ahnormally the mode of inser- 

 tion of sepal 2. 



