402 
GERANIALES 
See p. 128. The 7th cohort (Benth. -Hooker) of Polypetalae (p. 
133)- 
Geranium (Tourn.) Linn. Geraniaceae. 160 sp. temp. (12 in Brit, of 
which G. pratense L., meadow cranesbill, and G. Robertianum L., 
herb Robert, are the most noteworthy). The infl. is cymose, either 
dichasial with a cincinnus-tendency (by preference of the /3-bracteole), 
or a cincinnus alone, which is straightened out into a sympodium. 
The nectaries are at the base of the sta. These stand at first round 
the undeveloped style ; after dehiscence they move away, and finally 
the stigmas open. The fruit explodes, the awn twisting up so that 
the cpls. are carried upwards and outwards. In many sp. they open 
at the same time and the seeds are shot out. The G. of greenhouses 
is really a Pelargonium. 
Gerardia Linn. Scrophulariaceae (in. n). 30 sp. Am. 
Gerbera Gronov. Compositae (xn). 30 sp. Afr., As. 
Gerrardiana Oliver. Samydaceae. 1 sp. S. Afr. 
Gesneria Linn. Gesneriaceae (11). About 60 sp. trop. Am. 
Gesneriaceae. Dicotyledons (Sympet. Tubiflorae). About 85 gen. 
with 700 sp. trop. and sub-trop. Most are herbaceous or slightly 
woody plants ; shrubs and trees are rare. Leaves usually opp., rarely 
whorled or alt., entire or toothed, never divided, exstip. Some are 
root-climbers, and amongst these are a few epiphytes, e.g. Aeschy- 
nanthus, usually with fleshy water-storing leaves. Many are tuberous 
plants, e.g. the familiar Sinningia (Gloxinia) of our greenhouses. A 
number of sp. reproduce vegetatively by means of curious runners or 
suckers, covered with scale-leaves ; these are usually formed below 
ground; instances are Naegelia, Isoloma, &c. A very peculiar mor- 
phology and life-history is found in Streptocarpus (q.v.). 
Firs, solitary or in cymose infls. of various types, £ , usually 
markedly zygomorphic. K (5), usually with very short teeth, gene- 
rally valvate; C (5), often 2-lipped, im- 
bricate (in Ramondia, &c. it is nearly 
rotate and regular) ; A usually 4, didyna- 
mous, sometimes 2, sometimes 5 (Ra- 
mondia, &c.), alt. with corolla-lobes ; 
staminodes are often found. At the base 
of the flower-tube is a disc, whose various 
shapes form important marks in distin- 
guishing the genera ; it may be ring-shaped 
(thin or thick), 5-angled, 5-lobed, or re- 
duced to 5 or fewer glands. The ovary 
may be superior, or more or less inferior 
(see below); it is always of (2) cpls., i-loc. 
with parietal placentae which sometimes 
project inwards so far that it becomes 
imperfectly 2-loc. Ovules 00, anatropous. Style simple; stigma 
