Volume 3 — PLATE CCIV. GERANIUM LACINIATUM. Var. flore purpureo. Ragged-leaved Geranium. Purple flowered Variety.

CLASS XVI. ORDER IV.

MONADELPHIA 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.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Geranium foliis radicalibus, integris laciniatisque, petiolis filiformibus; calycibus monophillis; staminibus quinque fertilibus; radice tuberosa; floribus purpureis.

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

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement magnified.

2. The Chives spread open.

3. The Pointal and seed-bud magnified.

This very handsome variety, (for we cannot consider it as a species,) of the Geranium laciniatum, was imported in 1800, from the Cape of Good Hope, by G. Hibbert Esq.; in whose collection it flowered, last year, in the month of June, when our drawing was taken; and we believe it is in no other at present in this kingdom. Mr. Allen, under whose care that collection is preserved in such high order and perfection, and to whose kind communications, we are much indebted; informs us, that he has not, as yet, been able to increase it; but, from every appearance, the plant, he has no doubt, may, by the root, as are the other species which have the tuberous character; and that he did not treat it differently from the rest of the Geraniums which compose this branch of that interesting family.