94 Geraniacecz Oxalis. 



are known, of which three or four are widely distributed, and 

 the rest from South Africa and South America. The name is 

 from o%v$, sharp, acid, in reference to the quality of many 

 species. Dimorphic and trimorphic flowers are frequent in this 

 genus, the apetalous ones being very fertile. The pretty 

 Wood Sorrel, 0. Acetosella, belongs to this genus, and many 

 of the exotic species are strikingly beautiful. 



1. 0. corniculata. This is one of the most widely dispersed 

 plants, occurring in all save very cold countries. A small 

 branching pubescent annual or biennial plant. Leaves all 

 cauline, stipulate, 3-foliolate. Flowers small, yellow, two or 

 three together. There is a handsome variety of this named 

 rubra, with bronzed-purple foliage. 



2. 0. D6ppei. A tuberous-rooted species with quadri- 

 foliolate leaves ; leaflets obcordate. Flowers large, lurid red, in 

 umbels, produced all the Summer. Mexico. 



3. 0. Valdiviensis. A glabrous annual from 6 to 9 inches 

 high with trifoliolate leaves and rich yellow flowers tinged 

 with red, and borne in long-stalked umbels. 



4. 0. rosea, syn. 0. floribunda. A Brazilian perennial 

 species with trifoliolate leaves, growing about 6 inches or more 

 high. Leaflets ovate, emarginate. Flowers numerous, um- 

 bellate, rose or white. 



5. 0. molacea. A hardy North American plant. Leaflets 

 3, obcordate. Flowers few, umbellate, purplish violet, appear- 

 ing in May and June. 



6. 0. Bowiei. This is one of the handsomest of the genus. 

 A perennial about 6 inches high, slightly pubescent, with 

 large trifoliolate leaves and rich purplish red flowers. It is a 

 native of South Africa, and nearly hardy or quite hardy in 

 favourable localities in this country. 



6. IMPATIENS. 



Herbs or undershrubs, usually glabrous. Leaves alternate, 

 opposite or radical, serrate or dentate ; petiole often glandu- 

 lar at the base. -Peduncles axillary, solitary, or fascicled, one 

 or more flowered. Flowers irregular. Sepals 3, very rarely 5, 

 coloured, imbricated, two lateral flat, two anterior when pre- 

 sent small, the posterior or upper produced downwards in a 

 spur. Petals 3, anterior outside, concave, lateral, bifid, formed 

 of two united, the upper lobe exterior. Stamens 5. Capsule 

 5-celled, many-seeded, the valves opening with elasticity ; 



