ORDER XXY. BALSAMESTACE.E. 251 



pons, without albumen. Embryo curved, cotyledons plaited. 

 Stems tumid, and separate at the joints. 



Genus I.— GERA'XIUM. L. 15—10. 



(From gera?ws, a crane ; the long termination of the carpels gives it the name of 

 Crane"s-bill.) 



Sepals 5, equal. Petals 5, equal. Stamens 10, alternate 

 ones larger, with nectariferous scales at the base. Carpels ter- 

 minated by long awns. 



1. G. macula'tlm, (L.) Stem erect, retrorsely pubescent, dichoto- 

 mou?, somewhat angled. Leaves opposite, 3 — 5-parted, notched. Seg- 

 meyds cuneate, pubescent. Flowers few, the terminal peduncle 2-fiow- 

 ered. Sepals hairy, oblong-lanceolate. Petals villous, obovate, cune- 

 ate, entire. — Purple. 2f . April — May. Common. 



Crow-foot. Spotted Crane's-bill. 



2. G. Carolinianum, (L.) Stem procumbent, assurgent, pubescent, 

 diffusely branched. Leaves opposite, 5-lobed, 3-cleft. Flowers in the 

 divisions of the stem. Peduncles 2-flowered. Sepals ovate, hairy, 3- 

 nerved, mucronate. Petals obovate, emarginate, equal in length to the 

 sepals ; five exterior stamens shortest. Stigmas 5. Seeds oval, mi- 

 nutely reticulated. — Rose-color. ©. March — June. Common about 

 cultivated lands. 



Order XXV.— BALSAMINA'CE^ Rich. 



Sepals 5, apparently only 4, from the union of the two upper 

 ones, and sometimes only 2, the lowest one spurred ; aestivation 

 imbricate. Petals 4, united so as to appear but 2, hypogynous. 

 Stamens 5, hypogynous. Filaments subulate. Anthers 2- 

 celled. Ovary 5-celled, with a central placenta. Stigmas 5, 

 sessile. Fruit 1 or 5 celled, 5-valved, many-seeded. Seeds 

 suspended. Embryo straight, anatropous. Succulent herbs. 

 Flowers axillary. 



Gems I.— IMPATIEN3. L. 5—1. 

 (Latin impaiiens, impatient, from the bursting of the seed-vessel when touched.) 



Sepals apparently only 4. Petals apparently only 2. Sta- 

 mens 5, more or less united at the summit. 



1. I. taiAida, (Nutt.) (/. Noli Tungcre of Fit.) Stem much branch- 

 ed, succulent, smooth. Leaves oval or ovate, serrate ; teeth mucronate, 

 on long petioles, glabrous. Lower .-epal broad, spurred. — Yellow. 

 Q. July — Sept. Common in wet places. 2 — 5 feet. 



Balsam. Snap-weed 



2. I. ful'va, (Xutt.) {I. b'iflora of Ell.) Leaves rhombic-ovate, ser- 

 rate ; teeth mucronate. Ptdundes 2 — i-flowered. Lower sepal acute- 

 ly cordate, with a foo tie spur. Flower spotted with brown 



Plant similar to the preceding. — Deep oraDge. •£}• Jul}' — Octo- 

 ber. Swamps. 



