SUPPLEMENT. 
THE FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS. 
By Caries Louis Poiuarp. 
CHAPTER XXII. 
Order Geraniales. 
The large group Rosales, with which we have been dealing, was 
distinguished, it will be remembered, by the simple ovary, consisting 
either of one carpel or several separate 
and distinct carpels. In the order 
Geraniales the carpels are united, form- 
ing a compound ovary; the stamens are 
definite in number, rarely more than 
twice as many as the sepals; and the 
position of the ovule or immature seed 
in the ovary is also characteristic. The 
order is a large one, comprising 20 
families, of which the most important 
are the Geraniaceae, Linaceae, Ruta- 
ceae, Burseraceae, Meliaceae, and Eu- 
phorbiaceae. The plants include herbs, 
shrubs and trees, many of which are of 
economic or ornamental value. 
Family Geraniaceae. Geranium 
Family. Contains about 11 genera 
and 475 species, of rather wide distri- 
bution, but particularly abundant in 
South Africa. They are herbs with 
solitary or clustered flowers, which in 
Geranium and Pelargonium are often 
showy and bright colored. The sta- 
mens are 5 or a multiple of 5; the 
ovary 5-celled, becoming a capsule in 
fruit. The carpels, or divisions of the 
ovary, bear long tails which are often 
Fig. 123. The Alaskan cranesbill (Ge- 
vanium erianthum) oue-half natural size. 
Original. 
elastic when ripe, causing them to curl up. This has given the name 
“eranesbill ’to the geraniums and their allies. 
