'14-4 THE GEEAKITJM FAMTIT. 



Two other Continental perennial species are included in some of our 

 Floras as having occasionally strayed from gardens ; the striate G. ( &. 

 striatum), with long hairs on the stems, and rather large flowers, the petals 

 very pale, elegantly veined, and rather deeply notched ; and the knotty G-. (G. 

 nodosum, Eng. Bot. t. 1091), a glabrous plant, the lobes of the leaves very 

 pointed, and the petals of a purplish red, much less notched. G. macro- 

 rhizon and several other exotic perennials are also cultivated in our flower- 

 gardens. 



1. Blood Geranium. Geranium sanguineum, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 272.) 



Eootstock thick and woody, sometimes creeping. Stems numerous, about 

 a foot long, decumbent or rarely erect, with spreading hairs. Leaves nearly 

 orbicular, but divided to the base in 5 or 7 segments, which are again cut 

 into 3 or 5 narrow lobes. Elowers large, of a dark purple, growing singly 

 on long, slender peduncles. Sepals hairy, with a fine point. Petals twice 

 as long, obovate, slightly notched, and veiy spreading. 



In dry woods and pastures, in temperate and southern Europe to the 

 Caucasus, penetratmg far into Scandinavia. In Britain, it occm-s in many 

 locaUties and yet is not very general. Fl. summer. A variety with more 

 flesh-coloured flowers, and of shorter growth, originally found in the Isle 

 of Walney, Lancashire, has been pubhshed as a species, under the name 

 of G. lancastriense. 



2. Dusky Geranium. Geranium phoexim, Limi. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 322.) 



Eootstock and general mode of growth of the ivood G., but the stems are 

 weaker, with fewer flowers, the leaves less deeply cut, vtith broader lobes, 

 and the petals, of a dark, dingy purple colour, are broadly obovate, quite 

 entire, and spread vei-y open fi'om the base, or are almost reflexed. 



In woods and meadows, in hilly districts, in central and western Europe, 

 not extending to its eastern hmits, and in northern Europe only as an 

 introduced plant. In Britain, also beheved to be an introduced plant, 

 althovigh said to be apparently wild in some parts of Westmoreland and 

 Torkshire. Fl. all smrnner. 



3. ^^ood Geraniutn. Geranium sylvaticum, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 121.) 



Eootstock very short, covered with the brown scarious stipules of the old 

 leaves. Stems erect or ascending, 1 to 2 feet high or rather more. Radical 

 leaves on long stalks, palmately divided almost to the base with 5 or 7 

 pointed lobes more or less cut and serrated. Stem-leaves few, on much 

 shorter stalks. The upper part of the stem is repeatedly forked, forming a 

 rather dense, corym bose panicle of handsome purplish flowers. Peduncles 

 short, each with two flowers, on short pedicels, which remain erect when 

 the fruit ripens. Sepals ending in a fine point above a hne long. Petals 

 obovate, slightly notched, scarcely twice as long as the calyx. Filaments of 

 the stamens hauy, scarcely flattened. 



In inoist woods and thickets, and mountain meadows, throughout Europe , 

 and Russian Asia, extending to the Arctic regions. In Britain, chiefly in ' 

 western, central, and northern England, Scotland, and northern Ireland. 

 Fl. summer. 



