GERANLVCE^. 205 



articulated hairs of G. Hobcrtiaimm, var. a, though longer and 

 more abundant than in that foi'm. The carpels, however, arc 

 glabrous, and with the wrinldcs forming scarcely any meshes ; the 

 petals are smaller, and of a deeper rose-colour.* 



Var. 7 is a smaller and more branched plant, with the deep 

 purplish-red of G. lucidum, and glabrous except a few short glan- 

 dular hairs on the sepals, and in a strip on the peduncles and 

 pedicels. The car^iels resemble those of var. (i, but are more closely 

 ■wrinkled, and have the wrinkles at the back anastomosing so as 

 to form a few meshes. This is certainly the plant represented in 

 Forster's "English Botany" Supplement as G. purpiireum; it is 

 also that represented as G. purpureum (Vill.) in Reich, 1. c. tig. 

 4871b ; and it is apparently identical with G. minutiflorum, of which 

 I possess authenticated specimens, though these are less branched 

 than is usually the case in the British plant. 



All the forms have more or less a peculiar fetid odour, which 

 is however strongest in var. a. 



Herb Bohei^t. 



French, Geranhun Ilerbe d, Robert. German, Ruprecldshraut. 



The common name of this pretty plant is said to have originated in its being used 

 to cure a disease called in Germany " Rupreclits PlHge," very probably in allusion to 

 Robert Duke of Normandy, for whom the celebrated lueiiical work of the Middle Ages, 

 the " Ortus Sanitatis," was written. The name occurs in a MS. vocabulary of the 

 thirteenth century. In former times this herb had a considerable medical reputation, 

 and was used as a vulnerary and abstergent. It possesses, in common with its whole 

 family, slightly astringent qualities, and, according to the doctrine of signatures. Sir 

 John Hill informs us that its power to arrest bleeding is indicated by the beautiful red 

 hue as.sumed by the fading leaves. In Wales it is still administered in medicine, and 

 our never-failing friend Gerarde extols it as an excellent " atauncher of blood." 



GEN US 77.— E R O D I U M. Linn. 



Flowers nearly regular. Sepals 5, persistent, free, imbricated ; 

 the upper one not spurred. Petals 5. Glands 5, alternate with 

 the petals. Stamens 10 ; the 5 exterior ones without anthers, so 

 that the anthers are only 5 in number. Capsule consisting of 5 

 separable cocca with long beaks, which are usually clothed with 

 long hairs on the inner face. Axis forming a central column, 

 from which the beaks of the different carpels separate and twist 

 spirally. 



• As Dr. Lindley speaks of his G. Raii having the calyx shaggy, I suppose it 

 must be referred to var. /3 instead of var. y ; and perhaps this may be Professor Bab- 

 iDgton's G. mai-itimum, though I have seen no plant which agrees with iiis descrip- 

 tion of the fruit being wrinkled only at the top. 



