250 
ST. HELENA. 
wild, and is common under walls and stones along roadsides, Cleugh’s 
Plain, &c. M. Alt. 2 '4. — Hab. Italy. 
Pelargonium, LMIerit. 
121. *P. cotyledonis, L’Herit. ; Er odium sempervivum, Koxb. — 
This plant, to which the St. Helenians have given the name of “ Old 
Father Live for Ever,” from its power of retaining vitality for 
months without either soil or water, is the most curious of all the 
indigenous plants. It is now very rare, but still to be found at 
alts. T to 2, clinging to the barren, exposed, rocky cliffs overhanging 
the sea-coast on the windward side of the Island, where there is least 
soil and moisture. The colour of its stem is a chocolate-brown, con- 
siderably mottled by the grey lichens growing upon it, and so 
nearly resembles the dark basaltic cliffs and soil upon which it is 
found, that at the time when the plant is leafless it is most difficult 
to distinguish it from the rock upon which it grows. It seems to 
seek out the most inaccessible places, where there is no other vege- 
tation — indeed, where nothing else would grow ; and not without 
some risk are the plants of it to be obtained. It throws out its 
leaves and white blossoms about May or June, after the summer 
rains ; these soon die away again, leaving the plant for the most part 
of tlie year very much like a knotted mass of old fir-tree roots. It is 
now chiefly found on Sandy Bay Barn and Man and Horse Clifls ; 
and the only places inland where it occurs, and that very rarely, are 
Cole’s Eock, in Sandy Bay, and the eastern side of High Knoll, 
alt. 3'75. Plate 30. Also L’Heritier Geraniaceae, t. 27. 
122. P. denticulatum, Jacq. — Nutmeg Geranium ; grows wild 
about the high land shrubberies, especially in the neighbourhood 
of St. Paul’s churchyard, where it is very common. — Hab. Cape of 
Good Hope. 
123. P. graveolens, Ait. — Geranium with the odour of a Bose, 
said by Koxburgh to grow in the Island. — Hab. Cape of Good 
Hope. 
124. P. hybridum, Ait. — Bastard Scarlet Geranium; grows 
wild, associated with the larger variety. — Hab. Cape of Good 
Hope. 
125. P. glutinosum, Ait. — Oak-leaf Geranium; grow T S wild 
and abundantly about the woodside hedges and St. Paul s 
