462 GEEANIACE^. 



called Grape-sugar, is formed at the expense of the acids (pp. 164, 165). 

 The vessels of the vine are large (fig. 63, p. 19), and the sap passes 

 through them with great force and rapidity. When cut in spring the 

 plant bleeds freely. The leaves of the vine, on account of their as- 

 tringency, have been used in diarrhoea. In France its sap is a popular 

 remedy for chronic ophthalmia. Raisins (uvse passse), as foimd in the 

 shops, are the produce of Spain and Asia Minor. Muscatel raisins are 

 imported from Malaga, and are used for dessert ; Valencia raisins 

 from Spain. The stoneless Sultana raisins, from Smyrna, arfe used for 

 culinary purposes. In pharmacy Valencia raisins are used. In 1872, 

 the consumption of raisins in Great Britain amounted to 617,418 

 cwt., value ^1,149,337. The currants of the shops are the dried fruit 

 of the Corinthian vine. The name currant in this case is a corruption 

 of Corinth. Vitis vulpina yields the Fox-grapes of Rhode Island. 

 The leaves of Gissus cordata and 0. setosa are said to possess acrid pro- 

 perties. The berries of the latter are acrid. Both leaves and fruit of 

 Gissus tinctoria abound in a green colouring matter, which on exposure 

 to air and light becomes blue, and is highly esteemed as a dye for 

 cotton fabrics. Ampelopsis virginica, the Virginian creeper, is com- 

 monly cultivated as a climbing plant. 



Order 44. — GBEANiACE.a;, the CranesbiU Family. (Polypet. Sypog.) 

 Sepals 5, persistent, more or less unequal (figs. 338, p. 213 ; 351 cc, 

 p. 306), one sometimes spurred at the base (Pelargonium) ; aestivation 

 imbricated. Petals 5 (or by abortion 4), unguiculate, with contorted 

 aestivation (figs. 338, p. 213; 379 p p, p. 228). Stamens mona- 

 delphous, hypogynous (figs. 338, p. 213 ; 379 e, p. 228), twice or thrice 

 as many as the petals, some occasionally abortive. Ovary of 5 carpels, 

 placed round an elongated axis (fig. 338 t, p. 213); ovules pendulous, 

 solitary ; styles 5, cohering round the axis or carpophore (fig. 338, p. 

 213). Fruit formed of 5 one-seeded coccoons, terminated each by an 

 indurated style, which curls upwards, carrying the coccus or pericarp 

 with it (fig. 551, p. 306). Seeds exalbuminous, solitary, with a curved 

 folded embryo, and leafy, convolute, and plaited cotyledons (fig. 607, 

 p. 339). — Herbs or shrubs, with simple, stipulate leaves, which are 

 either opposite, or alternate with peduncles opposite to them. They 

 are distributed over various parts of the world. The species of Pelar- 

 gonium abound at the Cape of Good Hope. The species of Geranium 

 proper have regular flowers without spurs. Authors mention 7 genera, 

 including, after separating hybrids, about 300 species. Examples — 

 Geranium, Pelargonium. 



The name CranesbiU is derived from the long beak-like prolonga- 

 tion of the axis, or what is called the carpophore (p. 240). The plants 

 of this order are astringent and aromatic. The root of Geranium macvr- 

 latum receives the name Alum root, in consequence of being a very 

 powerful astringent. The tuberous or monUiform roots of some, such 



