By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 



307 



3. South-west District, " Warminster," Mr. Wheeler. 



North Division. 



4. North-west District, " Frequent about Chippenham," Dr. 

 Alexander Prior. " Near Corsham," Miss Meredith. 



5. North-east District, "Burbage," Mr. William Bartlett. At 

 present rare and apparently a very local species in Wilts, though not of 

 uncommon occurrence in the adjoining county (Somerset). Further 

 localities are desired in order that its distribution may be accurately 

 ascertained. This plant is not unfrequently mistaken for " G. molle, 

 or G. pusillum" to both of which it is nearly related. But the former 

 of these two is distinguished by its cleft or deeply emargined petals, 

 and by its wrinkled utriculus having a smooth beak. " G pusillum" 

 has emarginated petals, only 5 antherse, and its flowers are much 

 smaller although also pale red. The beak of the utriculus is not 

 furnished with distant but with thick crowded hairs. " G. pyrena- 

 icum " which is most nearly related to " G. molle " has a perennial 

 root, is much larger in all its parts ; has also large flowers, the 

 petals of which are deeply cleft, and it has not a bunchy utriculus. 

 |* G. dissectum " is distinguished by its palmate cleft leaves, the 

 lobes of which are linear and stand at equal distances from each, 

 other, the emarginated petals are as long as the awned calyx ; the 

 beak of the utriculus is furnished with shaggy hairs, the flower 

 stalks are shorter than the stem leaves. " G. columbinum" on the 

 other hand which is very like " G. dissectum,'" has very long 

 wavering flower stalks, stem leaves of the same kind, large flowers 

 and a smooth beak of the utriculus. The genus Geranium cannot 

 be distinguished at first sight from Erodium. But the latter has 

 among its ten filaments five that are abortive. The beak of the 

 utriculus is 'turned into a spiral shape and is internally furnished 

 with hairs which may be most easily seen in E. cicutarium, the 

 most common species. 



Erodium, (L'Herit.) Stork's-bill. 

 Linn. CI. xvi. Ord. i. 

 Name. From (erodios), a heron or stork, the bill of which bird 

 the fruit or capsule resembles. 



