96 GEEANiACEvE. [Gcraniinn. 



Prater al Vienna, where they rival the oaks of that most magnificent of parks in 

 magnitude. 



Several varieties of this tree occur, distinguished by the more or less acute 

 lobing, smoothness or hairiness of the leaves and fruit, some of which have been 

 considered as separate species by the continental botanists. With us the Field 

 Maple does not vary much ; as in other species, the flowers are occasionally 

 imperfect in some of their organs, or polygamous. 



This is one of the few European Maples that prefer low and warm situations 

 in the plains, to cool, moist and hilly or mountainous localities. 



It is [under the canopy of a venerable Maple in the author's native parish of 

 Boldre, of which the town of Lymington is a part, that the pious and ingenious 

 Gilpin reposes, amidst scenes long blessed by his pastoral labours, and illustrated 

 by his pen and pencil. 



Order XIX. GERANIACE^, Jii,ss. 



" Sepals 5, persistent, with an imbricated aestivation. Petals 5, 

 with a claw. Stamens generally monadelphons and twice as many 

 as there are petals, some occasionally abortive. Ovary 5-lobed, 

 terminated by a long thick beak (torus or gynohase), and 5 stigmas. 

 Carpels 5, 1 -celled, ultimately separating from the base of the 

 beak, together with a long elastic awn (the style). Seed solitary, 

 without albumen. Embryo curved. Cotyledons convolute and 

 plaited. — Herbs or shrubs, tcitli leaves opposite at the joints, or 

 alternate and then opposite the peduncles. No tendrils." — Br. Fl. 



I. Geeanium, Linn. Crane's-bill. 



" Petals regular. Stamens 10, slightly monadelphous ; 5 outer 

 ones opx^osite the petals, rarely sterile ; the other 5 alternating, 

 larger, with a gland at their base. Capsules each with a long 

 glabrous recurved awn." — Br. Fl. 



1. G. Robertianam, L. Stinking Crane's-bill. Herb Robert. 

 " Leaves 2 with 3 or 5 deep lanceolate inciso-pinnatifid acumi- 

 nated segments, calyx angular hairy, claw of petals glabrous, cap- 

 sules transversely wrinkled, seeds without dots." — Br. Fl. p. 84. 

 F. B. t. 1486. 



/3. jjtirpureum, G. purpureum, Forst. E. B. Suppl. t. 2648. 



y. Flowers pure white. 



Common everywhere in moist shady situations, woods, groves, on rocks, old 

 walls, hedgebanks and rough stony places. Fl. April —Septembej. ©. or <?. 

 (ex Koch). 



/3. On the shore near the Priory. 



y. Wood near Norris Castle. 



2. G. lucidum, L. Shining Crane's Bill. " Leaves roundish 

 5-lobed, lobes trifid and notched obtuse with a short mucro, calyx 

 pyramidal angular dentato-tuberculate, claw of petals glabrous, 

 capsules transversely wrinkled, seeds without dots." — Br. Fl. p. 

 84. E. B. t. 75. 



