GERANIACE.f:. 189 



ages and in many countries. The "Welsh, Germans, and others consider the Flax, with 

 its transparent blue flower, as emblematical of friendslii]) ; and so the Egyi^tian predi- 

 lection for this pretty plant is supposed by some to have arisen from its azure blossom, 

 resembling the blue colour of the sky. 



OBDER XX.— G ERANIACEiE. 



Herbs, undershrubs, or shrubs, frequently clothed with glan- 

 dular pubescence. Leaves opposite or alternate, usually more or 

 less deeply lobed or divided, generally furnished with stipules. 

 Peduncles commonly axillary, 1- or 2-flowered or many-fiowered 

 and sub-umbellate, rarely in cymes or racemes. Flowers perfect, 

 regular or irregular, often handsome and brightly coloured. Sepals 

 5, free (or more rarely united at the base), imbricated (rarely 

 valvate), the posterior one sometimes spurred. Petals as many as 

 the sepals (more rarely fewer or none by abortion), hypogynous or 

 slightly perigynous, imbricated. Torus scarcely expanded into a 

 disk, frequently with 5 small glands alternate with the petals, gene- 

 rally produced in the centre of the ovary as far as the point where 

 the ovules are inserted or beyond it. Stamens twice as many as 

 the sepals (or more rarely thrice as many or only as many), some of 

 them frequently without anthers. Filaments sometimes dilated at 

 the base where they are united into a short ring, sometimes filiform 

 and free. Anthers versatile and 2-celledj with a very slender con- 

 nective. Ovary 5- or 3-lobed, consisting of as many carpels and 

 cells as there are lobes ; the carpels united to the torus as far as the 

 insertion of the ovules, or prolonged into beaks, which adhere to 

 the prolonged torus. Styles as many as the carpels, free or more 

 or less united. Ovules in each cell 1, 2, or more. Fruit a 3- or 

 5-lobed capsule with 1-seeded cells separating from the axis, or 

 with 2- or more seeded cells dehiscing loculicidally ; cells rarely 

 berry-like and many-seeded, either remaining attached to the axis 

 or separating from it with elasticity. Seeds generally without an 

 arillus. Testa membranaceous or rarely hard. Abumen small 

 in quantity or none, rarely more abundant and fleshy. Embryo 

 with the cotyledons frequently foliaceous and green. Ptadicle 

 sometimes straight and directed towards the hilum, sometimes 

 longer, curved, and lying on the back of the cotyledons. 



