42 
WOOD GERANIUM. 
The larger hairy root leaves are often discoloured with red and 
purplish blotches from whence the specific name ( maculatum ), spotted, 
has been given by botanists to this species. 
The flower stem is much branched and furnished with leafy 
bracts; the principal flowers are on long stalks, usually three springing 
from a central branch and again subdividing into smaller branchlets 
terminating in buds mostly in threes, on drooping slender pedicels; 
as the older and larger blossoms fall off a fresh succession appears on 
the side branches, furnishing rather smaller but equally beautiful 
flowers during many weeks. Gray gives the blooming season of the 
Cranes-bill from April to July, but with us it rarely appears before 
June, and may be seen all through July and August. 
This Wood Geranium is a beautiful species, and would no doubt 
repay the trouble of cultivation. Besides being very ornamental 
our plant possesses virtues which are well known to the herbalist as 
powerful astringents, which quality has obtained for it the name of 
‘ Alum rootj among the country people, who apply a decoction of 
the root as a styptic for wounds; and sweetened, as a gargle for sore 
throats and ulcerated mouth: it is also given to young children to 
correct a lax state of the system. 
Thus our plant is remarkable for its usefulness as well as for its 
beauty. 
A showy species, with large rose-coloured flowers and much 
dissected leaves, may be found on some of the rocky islets in Stoney 
Lake, Ont. The slender flower stem is about six inches in height, 
springing from a leafy involucre which is cut and divided into many 
long and narrow segments; flowers generally from one to three, 
