Volume 2 — PLATE CXXXI. GERANIUM LACINIATUM. Ragged-leaved Geranium.

CLASS XVI. ORDER IV. of Suppl. System. Veg. 1781.

MONODELPHIA DECANDRIA. Threads united. Ten Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

Monogyna. Stigmata quinque. Fructus rostratus, penta-coccus.

One Pointal. Five Summits. Fruit furnished with long awns, five dry berries.

See Geranium grandiflorum, Pl. XII. Vol. I.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Geranium foliis radicalibus, integris laciniatisque, petiolis filiformibus; calycibus monophyllis; Staminibus quinque fertilibus; radice tuberosa.

Geranium with leaves growing from the root, entire and jagged, foot-stalks thread-shaped; cups one leaved; five fertile chives; root tuberous.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement, with its tubular part laid open. 2. The Chives and Pointal, as they stand in the blossom, magnified. 3. The same cut open, and detached from the Pointal, magnified. 4. The Pointal, magnified.

The Ragged-leaved Geranium may be considered as an herbaceous plant, for it rarely retains its leaves longer than September; and when in a state of inaction, should be watered but sparingly, otherwise the root will be subject to rot. It may be increased by parting the roots about March, which should be afterwards planted in rich mould, and placed on a shelf in the hot-house; where they will flower in May or June. From an imported plant, in the Hibbertian collection, our drawing was made this year.

A continual harping on the same subject, may perhaps appear rather tiresome; but, as almost every real new species of Geranium, which falls under our observation, seems to add a fresh proof of the futility of the new arrangement, we cannot forbear noticing it. This species, for instance, has every other essential generic character of Monsieur L’Heritier’s Pelargonium, but unfortunately the most essential. Upon an accurate examination of a number of flowers, before they had expanded, (the only time when it can be truly ascertained), in no one instance, was there more than five tips to be found. Where to place it, with Erodium, or Pelargonium?

PLATE 131