392 
GERANIALES 
See p. 128. The 7th cohort (Benth. -Hooker) of Polypetalae (p. 
i, 33 )* 
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. 11). 30 sp. Am. 
Gerbera Gronov. Compositae (xn). 30 sp. Afr., As. 
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; imbricate (in Ramondia, &c. it 
is nearly rotate and regular) ; A usually 4, didynamous, sometimes 2, 
sometimes 5 (Ramondia, &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 distinguishing 
the genera ; it may be ring-shaped (thin or thick), 5-angled, 
5-lobed, or reduced 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 often bilobed. Fruit usually a capsule, splitting 
loculicidally into 2 valves, each of which may again split into 2; 
sometimes (Ramondia) the capsule is septicidal, or opens only at 
the tip, or the fruit may be more or less fleshy or berry-like. Seeds 
small and numerous, with endosperm (§ 11) or without (most of § 1). 
Embryo straight. 
The firs, are mostly protandrous ; their large size and bright 
