106 



GERANIACE^E. (GERANIUM FAMILY.) 



alternate with the petals. Stamens somewhat monadelphous. Ovary 

 deeply 5-lobed, the 5 two-ovuled carpels and the lower part of the long 

 styles adnate to a long and beak-like prolongation of the receptacle, 

 from which, when ripe and dry, the small and membranaceous pods are 

 torn off, and carried away by the styles, — which, as they separate from 

 the beak from the base upwards, are elastically recurved or revolute, the 

 solitary seed falling out. Embryo filling the seed (no albumen) ; cotyle- 

 dons folded together and bent down on the short radicle. — Strong- 

 scented herbs (or the Pelargoniums, which have somewhat irregular 

 flowers, shrubby plants), with opposite or alternate stipulate leaves, and 

 astringent roots. 



1. Geranium. Stamens with anthers 10, rarely 5. The recurving bases of the styles or 



tails of the carpels in fruit naked inside. 



2. Erodium, Stamens with anthers only 5. Tails of the carpels in fruit bearded inside^ 



often spirally twisted. 



Suborder II. LIMNANTHEiE. (Limnanthes Family.) 



Flowers 3-merous or 5-merous, completely symmetrical and regular ; the 

 persistent sepals ovate in the bud : glands of the receptacle alternate with 

 the petals. Stamens distinct. No beak or prolongation of the receptacle 

 beyond the ovary, which consists of 3 or 5 almost distinct, at length fleshy 

 and separating, indehiscent, 1-seeded carpels, united by a common style. 

 Seeds without albumen : cotyledons very thick and fleshy, the short radicle 

 included by their heart-shaped bases. — Tender low annuals, with pinnate 

 alternate leaves and no stipules. — Consists of the pretty-flowered Califor- 

 nian Limnanthes, and of 



3. Floerkea. Sepals, minute petals, and lobes of the ovary 3 : stamens 6. 



Suborder III. B A L.S AMINES. (Balsam Family.) 



Flowers mostly unsymmetrical, 5-merous as to the stamens and pistil ; 

 the sepals and petals irregular, usually unsymmetrical and of fewer pieces, 

 imbricated in the bud, all petaloid and deciduous, the larger piece with an 

 ample sac or spur : no glands : filaments distinct, short. Fruit a fleshy 5- 

 celled pod or berry : no albumen : the straight embryo with thick cotyle- 

 dons and a short radicle. — Tender herbs, the succulent stems gorged 

 with a bland watery juice ; the leaves simple, mostly alternate, without 

 stipules. 



4. Impatiens. Inner or lateral petals unequally 2-lobed. Pod bursting elastically into 5 



valves, several-seeded. 



Suborder IV. OXAL.TOEJE. (Sorrel Family.) 



Flowers 5-merous, regular and symmetrical, decandrous ; the persistent 

 sepals imbricated and the petals convolute in the bud : no glands alter- 

 nate with the latter. Stamens often monadelphous at the base. Fruit a 



