GERANIUM FAMILY. 93 



R. trigyna, Planch. Leaves mostly obtuse, elliptic-obovate, entire or 

 serrulate ; styles 3. R. tetrag^na, with acuminate leaves and 4 styles, 

 is probably a variety of the preceding. India. 



XXV. GERANIACEJ], GERANIUM FAMILY. 



As now received, a large and multifarious order, not to be 

 characterized as a whole in any short and easy way, including 

 as it does Geraniums, Nasturtiums, Wood Sorrels, Balsams, 

 etc.,which hare to be separately described. 



§ 1. Flowers regular; leaves simple, variously lobed or even dissected; glands of the 

 disk 5, alternate with the petals. Herbs. 



* Sepals imbricate/ ovary 5-celled, 10-ovuled; fruit dehiscent, the l-seeded carpels 



splitting elastically from a prolonged axis. (Lessons, Figs. 358, 359.) 



1. GERANIUM. Flowers 5-merous; sepals usually slender-pointed; stamens with 



anthers 10 (rarely 5) ; the recurving bases of the styles or tails of the carpels in fruit 

 naked inside. Leaves with stipules. Herbage scented. 



2. ERODIUM. Stamens with anthers only 5. Styles when they split off from the beak, 



bearded inside, often twisting spirally ; otherwise as Geranium. 



* * Sepals valvate ; ovary 5-celled, 5-ovuled ; the carpels fleshy and mdehiscent, break' 



ing away from a very short axis ; leaves pinnately divided. 



8. LIMNANTHES. Sepals and petals 5, the latter convolute in the bud. Stamens 10, 

 separate at the base. Style 1, 5-lobed at the apex, rising from the center of tW 

 6 ovaries, which in fruit become thickish and warty nutlets. 



4. FLCERKEA. Sepals, small petals, stigmas, and lobes of the ovary 8 ; and stamens 6; 



otherwise like Limnanthes. 



§ 2. Flowers regular / leaves compound, of 3 obcordate leaflets ; disk glands 0. Serbs. 



5. OXALIS. Sepals and petals 5, the former imbricated, the latter convolute in the bud. 



Stamens 10, monadelphous at base, the alternate ones shorter. Styles 5, separate on 

 a 5-celled ovary, which becomes a membranaceous several-seeded pod. Juice sour 

 and watery. Flowers usually open only in sunshine. 



§ 8. Flowers somewhat irregular, Geranium-like, the base of one sepal extending down- 

 ward on one side of the pedicel, forming a narrow tube or adherent spur. 

 Shrubby or fleshy-stemmed. 



6. PELARGONIUM. Sepals and petals 5 ; the two petals on the upper side of the flower 



differing from the rest more or less in size or shape. Stamens with anthers fewer than 

 10, commonly 7. Pistil, etc., as in Geranium. Herbage scented. Leaves with stipules, 



§4. Flowers very irregular, and unsymmetrical ; spur free. Tender herbs. 



7. TROPJBOLUM. Sepals 5, united at the base, and on the upper side of the flower ex- 



tended into a long, descending spur. Petals 5, or sometimes fewer, usually with claws ; 

 the two upper more or less different from the others and inserted at the mouth of the 

 spur. Stamens 8, unequal or dissimilar; filaments usually turned downwards and 

 ourving. Ovary of 8 lobes surrounding the base of a single style, in fruit becoming 

 S thick and fleshy closed, separate carpels, each containing a single large seed. Herbs, 

 often climbing by their long leafstalks ; the watery juice with the pungent odor and 

 taste of Cress. Leaves alternate ; stipules none or minute. Peduncles axillary, 1- 

 flowered. 



8. IMPATIENS. Sepals and petals similarly colored, the parts belonging to each not 



readily distinguished. There are 2 small outer pieces, plainly sepals, on the sides of 

 the flower ; then below (as it hangs, but really on the upper side) a third sepal form- 



