GERANIUM 



GEBANIUM OBDEB 



GBEANIUM 285 



rarely entire. Peduncles often axillary, one-flowered or somewhat umbeUately 

 many-flowered, rarely cymose or racemose. Mowers hermaphrodite, regular 

 or irregular. Sepals 5, rarely fewer, free or sometimes united to the middle, 

 imbricate, rarely valvate, the upper one spurred in some genera ; persistent or 

 rarely deciduous. Petals 5, or by abortion fewer or absent, hypogynous or 

 somewhat perigynous, variously imbricated, rarely twisted. Torus with 5 

 glands alternate with the petals, or glandless. Stamens usually ten, rarely 

 more or fewer. Fruit either a 3-5-lobed capsule, or separating into cocci, 

 rarely a berry. 



GERANIUM (Crane's Bill). — A 

 genus with about 100 species of herbs, 

 rarely shrubs, with opposite or alternate, 

 toothed, or usually palmately lobed leaves, 

 usually stipulate. Peduncles axillary, 

 1-2-flowered. Flowers regular, sepals and 

 petals 5, hypogynous ; glands 5, alternate 

 with the petals. Stamens usually 10, 

 of which 5 are sometimes imperfect. 

 Carpels 5, separating below and curling 

 upwards when ripe around a central 

 column resembling a bird's biU — hence the 

 popular name. 



Culture and Propagation. — Gera- 

 niums grow readily in ordinary well- 

 drained garden soil, and are well adapted 

 for the rock garden, margins of borders, 

 banks &c. They may be increased from 

 seeds sown in spring or autumn, in warm 

 sheltered parts of the open border, or 

 better still in shallow pans or boxes in 

 cold frames. When the seedlings are well 

 developed they may be pricked out 2-3 

 inches apart and grown on until they 

 again almost touch. During mild weather 

 in spring they may be planted in the 

 flower garden l|-2 ft. or more apart 

 according to vigour. A very simple and 

 easy method of increasing most Geraniums 

 is by division of the rootstock. This work 

 is performed about the end of September, or 

 not later than October, or in mild weather 

 in spring as growth is commencing. 



In order to see Geraniums at their 

 best, the plants when once estabUshed 

 should not be disturbed for 3 or 4 years. 

 A good mulching of well-rotted manure 

 may be placed around the crowns of the 

 plants in early winter, to act not only as 

 a shelter to the roots during severe frosts, 

 but also to replenish the soil with nutritious 

 food for them in spring. At the latter 

 period the manure may be very lightly 

 forked into the soil just beneath the sur- 

 face, if desired. 



Note. — The plants popularly called 



' Geraniums ' in gardens are in reality 

 Pelargoniums (see p. 288). 



G. aIbaniim-(Gf. criatatum). — A native 

 of S.E. Europe, 1 ft. high, with kidney- 

 shaped, 7-lobed and toothed leaves. 

 Flowers in May, purple, on hairy stalks. 



Culture do. as above. 



G. argenteum. — A beautiftil alpine 2-3 

 in. high, native of N. Italy. Leaves long- 

 stalked, hoary or silky on both sides, 5-7- 

 parted and cut. Flowers in summer, 

 large, pale rose with darker veins. 



Culture dc. as above. 



G. armenum. — A vigorous and very 

 handsome Armenian species, about 2 ft. 

 high, with rather smooth stems and 

 leaves, the latter being 5-lobed and more 

 or less toothed at the base. The loose 

 leafy cymes of flowers appear in June and 

 July, and are very effective owing to the 

 brilliant purple colour of the petals, each 

 of which has a deeper purple blotch at 

 the base, from which veins radiate over 

 the surface. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species is practically hardy, in ordinary 

 winters, and may be increased from seeds 

 — which are freely produced — or by 

 division as stated above. 



G. asphodeloides {G. suhcaulescens). 

 Native of S. Europe, about 6 in. high, 

 with very downy 5-lobed and cut leaves. 

 Flowers in summer, usually purplish- 

 violet. 



Cidture dc. as above. 



G. atlanticum. — An Algerian species 

 12-18 in. high. Leaves roundish, cut 

 nearly to the base into 5-7-lobed, cut and 

 toothed segments. Flowers in June, li 

 in. across, pale purple with red veins. 

 This species is also known as Q. malvee- 

 florum. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



