170 



THE GERANIUM FAMILY. 



In sandy, waste places and heaths, 

 especially near the sea, in western and 

 southern Europe. Abundant in the 

 Channel Islands, in some parts of the 

 south of Ireland, and occurring occa- 

 sionally on the southern and western 

 coasts of England. Fl. summer. 



Tig. 212. 



3. Sea Erodium. Erodium maritimum, L'Her. (Fig. 213.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 64,6.) 



A small, softly hairy, often viscid an- 

 nual, with the same varying habit as the 

 common F., but easily distinguished by 

 the simple, not pinnate leaves, often not 

 above half an inch long, ovate-cordate, 

 more or less toothed or even lobed, but 

 seldom beyond halfway to the midrib. 

 Peduncles seldom longer than the leaves, 

 with 1, 2, or rarely more, small, reddish- 

 purple flowers. Beak of the fruit seldom 

 above 6 lines long ; the hairs of the in- 

 side of the awn very few, perhaps some- 

 times entirely wanting. 



In maritime sands, in western Europe, 

 and on the Mediterranean, where it varies 

 much more than with us, and should 

 probably include several species of mo- 

 dern botanists. Not uncommon on the 

 south and west coasts of England, up to 

 the south of Scotland, less frequent in Ireland. Has been found also 

 in some inland situations in England. Fl. all summer. 



Fig. 213. 



