496 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



It is not mucla cultivated in this country, but more so in 

 France, the stalk and leaves being cooked in various ways, 

 and also used as salad. 



Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetoselld). A hardy perennial, native 

 of Britain, growing wild in woods. The leaves are some- 

 times used in salads, to which they impart a pleasant acid. 

 Having trifoliate leaves it is one of the plants supposed to be 

 the shamrock of Ireland. 



0. Bowei and other species, natives of the Cape of G-ood 

 Hope, are showy garden plants, but not sufficiently hardy to 

 stand the winters of this country without protection. 0. bu- 

 pleurifolia^ a small erect shrub with yellow flowers, and 

 small trifoliate leaves borne on the apex of a leaf-Hke foot- 

 stalk (phyllodea) 2 or 3 inches in length, which in the absence 

 of the leaf look hke the true leaves of the plant. The 

 leaves, like most other trifoliate leaves, particularly those of 

 Averrlioa Bilimbi, coUapse during the night and on being 

 touched. 



The Geranium Family. 



(Geraniace^.) 



Succulent, smooth, or prickly-stemmed shrubs, frutlets, or 

 herbs ; often gouty and tuberous. Leaves alternate or op- 

 posite, simple, lobed, or much divided. Flowers solitary, or 

 in umbels, of showy colours. Sepals 5. Petals 5, equal or 

 unequal; sometimes bilabiate. Stamens 7, 8 to 10 or 

 more (often fewer by abortion) united forming a tube. 

 Pistils 5. Fruit consisting of 5 one-seeded, united nuts 

 joined to a common centre which is prolonged, forming a 

 beak. 



Upwards of 500 species are enumerated in this family, the 

 principal genera of which are the Pelargonium, native 

 of South Africa, and Geranium and Erodium of Europe, 

 North Asia, and America. An aromatic resinous principle 

 pervades this family. Their great merit as now cultivated 

 in this country is their handsome flowers, which have been 

 obtained by hybridization. By some persons these showy 



