FLORISTS’ PELARGONIUMS. 41 
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FLORISTS’ PELARGONIUMS. 
Nat. Order , Geraniace.e. 
Generic Character. —Pelargonium, L'Hefitier.—Calyx five- 
parted ; the lobes sub-equal, the posterior produced at the base 
and adnate to the pedicel* so as to form an adherent spur, of 
variable length. Corolla of five petals, rarely by suppression 
four, or sometimes two, inserted at the base of the gynophore, 
alternating with the lobes of the calyx, clawed, equal or unequal, 
obtuse, caducous. Stamens ten, inserted with the petals, coherent 
into a tube below, unequal, the alternate stamens opposite each 
petal shorter, on a barren filament; filaments flattened, mem¬ 
branous, subulate from a broad base, the posterior often more 
produced; anthers introrse, two-celled, incumbent, obtuse, de¬ 
hiscing longitudinally, caducous. Ovaries five, oblong, adnate 
to the broader base of the elongated columnar gynophore, which 
is a little shorter than the styles, one-celled, two-ovulate; ovules 
ascending, or suspended ; styles filiform, distinct at the base, ad¬ 
herent longitudinally to the gynophore, contracted and coherent 
together above the gynophore, free at the apex ; stigmas introrse, 
lateral. Capsules five, oblong, with tails consisting of the styles 
j elastically separated from the columnar gynophore, the styles 
being flattened, villous within, and spirally twisted below ; the 
capsules at first suspended by the styles to the summit of the 
gynophore, these afterwards becoming detached; capsules one- 
celled, by suppression one-seeded, dehiscing by the ventral 
suture. Seeds three-sided ; testa crustaceous.—( Endlicher , Gen. 
Plant. 6048.) 
\ Pelargonium.— Petals five, unequal, the two upper approxi¬ 
mating. Stamens ten, unequal; seven fertile, the rest sterile, 
subulate.— Soft-stemmed undershrubs; or dwarf hei’hs, often with 
short, fleshy, bulb-like, underground stems ; natives of the Cape 
of Good Hope. The cross-bred varieties, so abundant in gardens 
under the popular name of Geraniums, have sprung from the 
shrubby section. 
Florists’ Varieties :—1. Hoyle's Ocellatum. 
2. Hoyle's Ajax. 
3. Hoyle's May Queen. 
B ESCRIPTION.—The varieties represented in the accompanying plate are among the most 
distinct and meritorious which have appeared at the London exhibitions during the present 
year. They were raised by G. W. Hoyle, Esq., of Reading, a gentleman who, in the present 
day, is well known as one of the most successful raisers of seedling Pelargoniums. The variety 
named Ocellatum is a most striking flower, and though less perfect in technical points than the 
others, will find more admirers, in consequence of the gay and striking effect produced by its 
fine spotted flowers ; it will be an excellent sale plant, and possesses the valuable character of 
constancy, having been exhibited in a perfect state through the whole season. Ajax is one of 
the best formed varieties yet 
raised, and its purple colour 
gives it additional value, now 
that rosy-coloured varieties are 
so common. May Queen is a 
flower of large size, with a pure 
white centre, and finely cloud¬ 
ed top petals, the general form 
good, and the colours lively. 
Our colourers fail in their at¬ 
tempts to give the rich tints 
of these high bred Pelargoni¬ 
ums. We understand these, 
and some other of Mr. Hoyle’s 
seedlings are now in the pos¬ 
session of Mr. Turner, of the 
Royal Nursery, Slough. 
Culture.— Pelargoniums 
require a rich light loamy soil, 
and liberal treatment while 
growing; protection from Rost 
at all times, without a close or 
hot confined atmosphere at any 
time ; and “ stopping” up to a 
period earlier or later in the 
season, according to the time 
when the blooms are required. 
When growing freely they like 
plenty of water—that is, if, as they should be, thoroughly drained—and a little weak manure 
DIAGRAM OF A PERFECT PELARGONIUM. 
VOL. IT. 
