Geranium foliis acuminatis, lobato-pinnatis, sub-carnosis, laciniis inequaliter dentatis; pedunculis subquadrifloris; floribus pentandris; petalis æqualibus, purpureis.
Geranium with leaves tapering to the point, winged in lobes and rather fleshy, the segments unequally toothed; foot-stalks generally four flowers; the flowers have five fertile tips; petals equal and purple.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement.
2. One Petal of the Blossom.
3. The Chives and Pointal.
4. The Chives, spread open.
5. The same, magnified.
6. The Pointal, magnified.
The thick-leaved Geranium is a native of the island of Cyprus, and was introduced by Dr. Sibthorpe, on his return from visiting the Grecian islands, in the year 1788. It is, we think, no more than a biennial plant at best, as it seldom survives the second winter, and but rarely the first. If the seeds are sown in the month of March, the plants will flower the ensuing autumn, and generally produce ripe seeds, if kept in a sheltered and warm situation. This plant is unquestionably the true Erodium of L’Heritier, and those who admit of that innovation, being the one, apparently, upon which he formed his Generic distinction; as we believe, no other species, so denominated, has every constituent Essential part necessary to his Genus.[Pg 551]
PLATE 136
