REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement.
2. The Chives spread open, and magnified.
3. The Pointal, and Seed buds, magnified.
This pretty Geranium is rather a delicate plant, and must be kept very dry in the winter; as, from the situation of its branches, which are pressed to the earth, and rather fleshy, they will be very apt to rot, if loo often watered, or placed in a damp part of the green house. It was introduced in the year 1781, by G. Hibbert, Esq. in whose collection, only, we have as yet seen it. Mr. Allen informs us, that it is to be propagated as well by cuttings, as from the seeds, which it does not produce plentifully. It has the appearance, if we may judge by analogy, to be but a biennial, and not an abiding plant. It flowers in April and May, and should be planted in light rich earth.
Here we have a botanical treat for the learned, who have adopted the new arrangement of this very vagarious tribe; for in this one plant are united some of the most essential characters of the three L’Heritierian Genera, which, justly, formed but divisions of Linnæus’s original genus; agreeing with Geranium and Erodium in the nectariferous cup; with Pelargonium in the blossom and seed; but differing from all three, in having but four fertile chives, with six abortive ones. A fact ascertained by the examination of above fifty flowers, taken from four different plants.[Pg 446]
