PLATE XVI-HERB-ROBERT (Geranium Robertianum). 



to W ards% b hftTof\Ur^n?TTT n member ° f . the Crane's-bill family, so called from the form of the fruit It appears in flower 

 brZ : co?o U fl'lr 1 ^ "f* * T t0 - the , ^ ° f December - » ****** notice by its disagreeable smell, and the 

 conTnicuous oblct ^1 f " ^ f^T- ^ fi /° liage asSUmes a tint to match the flower » thc ^\e plant becomes a 

 deXL^emid Hon. J 22 \f ^ I" 6 V^ bnt ?\ at the j ° intS - The leaves are in ' )airs as wel1 as the flowers, and are 



tle e % S mT e or1h d e JSSWjS^T* * *" **** "* ^ ""^ ** *« **« ° f *■ ^ ^ CnC ° Unter 



Stem, Leaves, and Flowers — 



Fig. 1. Compound leaf with five leaflets, which are again much divided. The leaf as it approaches the flower is seen to become 

 not only smaller but simpler. 



Fig". 2. Stem brittle at the joints. 



Leaves with long stalks and membranous stipules. 



Flower, bent— thus protecting the honey better from being acted on by raia 

 Fruit, the long and tapering style persisting as the beak. 

 Fig. 3. Cut a flower through from the base upwards— 

 Sepals, hairy, arising from receptacle. 



Petals, arising from receptacle, pointed at base and expanded at top. 

 Stamens, long and short, also arising from receptacle. 

 Carpels, united. 



Diagram I. — Calyx of five free sepals. 



Corolla of five free petals, alternating with sepals. 



Andrcecium of five outer, shorter stamens opposite to petals, and five longer, inner stamens. 

 Gyncecium of five carpels, as shown by the five stigmas, alternating with inner stamens. 



Nectaries, in the form of five small glands, alternating with petals. If these nectaries be regarded as modified 

 stamens, then the alternation of the different parts of the flower would be quite regular— sepals with petals ; 

 petals with nectaries or outermost row of modified stamens; outer with middle, short stamens; middle with 

 inner, long stamens; and inner with carpels. 

 Floral-Leaves — 



Fig. 4. Sepal with a long awn. 



Fig. 5. Petal with a narrow claw and expanded blade. 



Fig. 6. Stamen with flattened-out filaments. 



Fig. 7. Gyncecium with Ovary, Style, and five distinct Stigmas. There are two Ovules superposed in each chamber of the ovary, 



one of which grows largely, while the other shrivels up. 

 Fig. 8. Cut across ovary to see Placentation. 



Ovules attached to a central axis, with partitions between each ovule. This is called Axile Placentation. 

 Fruit and Seed — 



Fig. 9. The sepals persist at the base of the Fruit, as in Fig. i, but spread out when fully ripe. 



The carpels split from below upwards, and to prevent the jerk separating them entirely from the central axis, each 

 ovary is fastened to the base of the stigma by two silky hairs. These hairs are sufficiently strong to keep the ovaries 

 in place till the wind wafts them to new quarters, so by this beautiful and delicate contrivance the seeds are properly 

 scattered. 



Fig. 10. Seed, smooth. 



Fig. 11. Take the seed between finger and thumb, and make a section lengthways and another cross-wise. 

 Embryo occupies the whole of the seed, and has its cotyledons much folded. 



CLASSIFICATION. 

 Class. — Dicotyledon. 

 Division. — Polypetalae. 

 Sub-division. — Thalamiflorae. 

 Order. — Geraniaceae (Gr. geranos, a crane, from the beak-like prolongation of the carpels). 



Leaves, stipulate. 



Stamens, definite. 



Placentation, axile. 



Fruit, capsular. 



Seed, without endosperm. 

 Genus. — Geranium. 

 Species. — Robertianum. 



