XLVIII. BALSAMINE^. 309 



sepal spurred. Petals hypogynous. Stamens 5, short ; anthers coherent. Stigmas sessile. — 

 5d.] 



Germiacga are so closely allied to LimnnntheeB, Vivianiece, Ledocnrpea, Oxnlideee, and Balsamme(B, 

 uhatv-Bentham and Hooker fil. have united them into one family, connecting with them also Tropaolets, 

 which are near Pelargonium in their irregular anisostemonous eglandular flower, spurred posterior sepal, 

 and perigynous petals with the two upper exterior ; hut which are separated hy their free fertile stamens, 

 1-ovuled indehiscent carpels without beak, and exstipulate leaves. lAmnantlies is distinguished 

 from OeraniaoecB by its valvate calyx, free stamens, gynohased style, 1-ovuled beakless indehi- 

 scent carpels, straight embryo, and exstipulate lea,ves. Vmaniecs diifer in their valvate calyx, 

 3-celled capsule with loculicidal dehiscence, seed with copious albumen, and exstipulate leaves. 

 Ledoearpem differ in the absence of glands, the ligulate stigmas, loculicidal capsule, and exstipulate 

 leaves. Oxalidem are separated by their compound exstipulate leaves, eglandulair receptacle, capitate 

 stigmas, capsular or berried fruit, albuminous seed, and straight or scarcely curved embryo. Balsaminem 

 have, like Petargonium, irregular flowers, a spurred posterior sepal, and an elastically opening fruit ; but 

 they differ in their exstipulate leaves, eglandular disk, pentandrous andrcecium with connate or connivent 

 anthers, sessile stigma, loculicidal capsule, and straight embryo with superior radicle. Geraniacecs 

 approach .^po^AyZfe<B in their jointed stem, astivation, diplo- or triplo-stemonous flower, capsular fruit 

 dividing into cocci, opposite and stipulate leaves ; but in ZygophylleeB the filaments do not cohere and are 

 filiform, the style is simple, the seeds are often albuminous, and the embryo is straight or hardly curved. 

 Lineee (especially the genus Linum) also approach Oeraniacem in their coroUa/ind in their andrcecium 

 composed of 6 fertile stamens and 6 staminodea opposite to the petals, their dilated filaments monadelphous 

 at the base, their entire ovary with 2-ovuled cells, pendulous anatropous ovules, terminal capitate 

 stigmas, straight embryo, and usually exstipulate leaves. Finally, Geraniacece offer some affinity with Mal- 

 vacecs in their stipulate palmilobed leaves, monadelphous stamens, exalbuminous seeds, and coiled embryo. 



GeraniacecB principally inhabit warm, temperate, and tropical countries of both worlds. Geranium 

 and Erodium especially belong to the northern hemisphere ; Monsonia to South Africa and tropical and 

 West Asia. Pelargoniem are met with in south temperate latitudes, and especially at the Cape of Good 

 Hope ; they are rarer in Australia and in the South Pacific Islands. One species (P. Endlicherianuni) 

 advances into Asia Minor. [Tropaolum i& wholly South American, and chiefly western ; Wendtiets and 

 Vivianiece are also Peruvian and Chilian ; Limnanthece North American. About 600 species are known, 

 belonging to the 13 genera enumerated above.] 



GeraniacecB contain tannin and gallic acid, and thus possess astringent properties. Several contaii» 

 resins, and a volatile oil, mixed with an abundant mucilage; others contain free acids. Herb Robert 

 {Geranium Pobertianum) and G. sanguineum, indigenous species, formerly used as astringents and slight 

 stimulants, have fallen into disuse ; G. pratense is still used as a vulnerary. The root of G. maculatum, 

 a native of North America, is there administered for dysentery, that of G. nodosum and striatum replaces 

 in Italy the Tormentilla. Erodium moschatum, which exhales a strong odour of musk, is a reputed 

 stimulant and diaphoretic. Some Pelargoniums are as remarkable for their scent as for the brilliancy of . 

 their colours which causes them to be cultivated as ornamental plants ; such are P. zqnale and inquinans, 

 the bruised leaves of which cause rusty spots. The pale yellow flowers of P. triste are spotted with 

 brown, and are sweet-scented by night. From some species a very sweet volatile oil is obtained by 

 distillation, which is used to adulterate essence of roses. The tubers of P. antidgsentei-icum, triste, 

 Sec, are employed by the Namaquois in diarrhoea. The leaves of P. acetosum and 2'eltatum have a very 

 aoreeable sharpish taste. The resinous balsamic stem of Monsonia spinosa burns with a flame, and the 

 natives of South Africa make torches of it. 



XLVIII. BALSAMINE^. 



(Balsamine^, a. Richard. — Balsaminaceje, Lindl. — HTDEOCEKBiE, Blume.) 



Calyx irregular, 3-5-phyllous, imbricate, caducous. Petals 3-5, hypogynous, 

 unequal, imbricate. ' Stamens 5, hypogynous, connate above, and covering the ovary. 



