GERANIAOE.i:. 



IV. BALBISIA SEEIES. 



The flowers of BulVma ' (fig. 20-22), resembling outwardly those 

 of Geranium^ arc hermaphrodite and regular, with a convex recep- 

 tacle, five unequal sepals, quincuncially imbricated in the bud, and 

 five alternate contorted petals. The stamens destitute of glands at 



Balhlsia vcrticilhita. 



Fig. 21. Gyna'ceum (i;). 



Fig. 20. Long. sect, of flower ( f). 



Fig. 22. Dehiscent fruit. 



the base arc ten in number, superposed, five to the sepals, and five, 

 more exterior, to the petals, each being formed of a free filament and 

 a two-celled anther, with almost marginal dehiscence. The gynasceum 

 is composed of a free ovary with five altcruipetalous cells, sur- 

 mounted by a style with five thick branches, charged within and 

 upon the edges with stigmatic papillae. Each ovary cell presents, 

 in its internal angle, a placenta supporting an indefinite number of 

 ovules in two vertical series. The fruit, accompanied at its base by 

 the persistent calyx, is a capsule separating above into five valves 

 lociUicidal at the summit, and allowing the seeds to escape which 

 contain under their coats a fleshy albumen and an axile embryo 

 whose radicle is folded between or upon the folded cotyledons. 

 Balhisia is composed of suffrutescent plants of Peru or Chili, more 



1 Cav. in Ah». Scienc. Nat. vii. 62, t. 40. — 

 Don, in Edinb. New Phil. Jour», xi. 276. — Kl. 

 in Lviiirca, x. 431.— B. H. Oe». 276, n. 13.— H. 

 Bn. in Pai/er Fain. Nat. 397. — Lcdocarpttm Desp. 

 in Mém. Mus. iv. 2.30.— DC. I'lodr. i. 702.— J. 



in 3Iém. Mus. v. 231. — Ledomrponi Endl. Gin. 

 n. 6050. — Cistocarpum K. in Men. Sic. Hml. 

 Nnt. pay. iii. 380 (ex E.\DL.). — Cruckhuuksia 

 Hook. Bot. Misc. ii. 211, t. 90. 



