FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
best used for ornamental garden vases, baskets, window-boxes, and 
especially for the decoration of the greenhouse or a conservatory. Most 
of them are of trailing habit, and unless they can hang down the sides 
of their receptacle they must be trained and tied to pyramidal “ ladders,” 
or balloon-shaped frames of wicker or wire. They require more water 
than the other kinds, and occasional syringing is desirable. Cuttings 
may be taken at any time other than winter, when the plants should be 
allowed to rest in a cool place. 
Description of Plate 54.—Fig. 1 represents Pelargonium zonale, the 
Plates 64 to 87. leaves exhibiting the characteristic girdle, that varies in 
breadth and intensity in different individuals. Figs. 2 and 3 are hybrids 
partially descended from P. zonale. Fig. 4 is a section of the flower, 
showing, besides the arrangement of organs, the hidden spur of the 
calyx. 
Plate 55 is a form of P. lateripes, the Ivy-leaved Geranium ; Fig. 1, 
a section of the flower. 
Plate 56 shows one of the so-called Oak-leaved Geraniums, P. 
graveolens , in which there is little resemblance to an oak-leaf unless the 
segments are taken separately. 
Plate 57 represents P. grandifiorum, one of the parents of the 
Show and Fancy Pelargoniums; Fig. 1, section of flower. 
NASTURTIUMS 
Natural Order Geraniacr®. Genus Tropceolum 
TroPjEolum (Greek, tropaion , a monument or trophy; the round 
leaves of certain species being thought to resemble bucklers and the 
flowers helmets—therefore the growing plant mimicked a pile of such 
things). A genus of annual or perennial herbs, mostly climbers. About 
thirty-five species are known, all natives of South America, but some 
perfectly hardy in this country. The stems are soft and succulent; the 
leaves alternate, more or less round, palmately-lobed or dissected, on 
long leaf-stalks which twine round twigs or branches for support. The 
flower is somewhat similar to that of Pelargonium, irregular. The five 
sepals are conjoined towards their base, and continued backwards in a 
long, hollow, honeyed spur. They are coloured like the corolla. The 
petals are five in number—yellow, orange, purple, or blue; the two upper 
differing from the others. Stamens eight, unequal. Fruit usually of 
three one-seeded fleshy carpels. 
