Volume 4 — PLATE CCXXXIX. GERANIUM SELINUM. Rock-Parsley-leaved Geranium.

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.

See Geranium grandiflorum. Vol. 1. Pl. XII.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Geranium foliis pinnatis, foliolis alternis, laciniatis, hirsutis; petala bina superiora refracta, 3 inferiora concava, conniventia, recta; staminibus 5 fertilibus; radice tuberosa.

Geranium with winged leaves; leaflets alternate, ragged, and hairy; the two upper petals appearing broke back, the 3 lower concave, approaching and straight; five fertile chives; root tuberous.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement.

2. The Chives, cut open and magnified.

3. The Pointal and Seed-bud magnified.

Geranium selinum claims the priority of introduction, with us, to any of that numerous division, in this large family, which are tuberous rooted and stemless, not including the G. triste, G. lobatum, or G. prolificum; and of which, although we have given many figures, we still possess drawings of 18 handsome species, besides numberless varieties. It was introduced in 1788 by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy; is a hardy greenhouse plant, being less subject to rot, after the decay of the leaves, than any of its congeners; flowers freely about June, and is propagated by the root; the seed (sometimes) ripens likewise. Our figure was taken from a plant, whose root had been received at the Clapham Garden, in 1800. As all the plants figured in the Botanist’s Repository, are titled with the commonly accepted names, if any, in England; and, as many have been given under different names, in some other publications, whence much confusion; we shall defer all attempt at synonim, till the end of this Volume, when a copious Index Synonimorum will be published, of all the plants figured in the work, for the use of those who wish for such authorities.