aERANlAOE^. 



11 



IV. BALBISIA SEEIES. 



The jlo-wers of Balbisia ' (fig. 20-22), resembling outwardly those 

 of Geranium^ are hermaphrodite and regular, with a convex recep- 

 tacle, five unequal sepals, quincuncially imbricated in the bud, and 

 five alternate contorted petals. The stamens destitute of glands at 



Balbisia verticillata. 



Fig. 21. GyniBcemn (f). Fig. 20. Long. sect, of flower (f). 



Fig. 22. Deliisoent fruit. 



the base are ten in number, superposed, five to the sepals, and five, 

 more exterior, to the petals, each being formed of a free filament and 

 a two-celled anther, with almost marginal dehiscence. The gynseceum 

 is composed of a free ovary with five alternipetalous cells, sur- 

 mounted by a style with five thick branches, charged within and 

 upon the edges with stigmatic papillae. Each ovary cell presents, 

 in its internal angle, a placenta supporting an indefinite number of 

 ovules in two vertical series. The fruit, accompanied at its base by 

 the persistent calyx, is a capsule separating above into five valves 

 looulicidal at the summit, and allowing the seeds to escape which 

 contain under their coats a fleshy albumen and an axile embryo 

 whose radicle is folded between or upon the folded cotyledons, 

 ■Balbisia is composed of suflErutescent plants of Peru or Chili, more 



' Cav. in Ann. Scienc. Nat. vii. 62, t. 46. — 

 Don, in JSdinb. New Phil. Journ. xi. 276. — Kl. 

 in Linnaa, x. 431.— B. H. Oen. 276, n. 13.— H. 

 Bn. in Payer Fam. Nat. 397. — Ledocarpmn Desf. 

 in Mem. Mm. iv. 260.— DO. Froiir. i. 702.— J. 



in MSm. Mas. v. 231. — Ledocarponi Endl. 6-en. 

 n. 6050. — Cistocarpmn K. in Mem. See. Sist. 

 Nat. par. iii. 380 (ex Endl.). — CriKkhanlcsia 

 Hook. Bot, Misc. ii. 211, t. 90. 



