Geranium foliis sericeis, cordatis, inequaliter dentatis; caule spinoso, subcarnoso, spinis retrofractis; floribus hexandris, rubro-purpureis; calycibus pilosis.
Geranium with silky heart-shaped leaves, unequally toothed; stem spiny, rather fleshy, spines turned downwards; flowers with six fertile tips and red-purple; cups hairy.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement.
2. An upper Petal of the Blossom.
3. An under Petal of the Blossom.
4. The Chives and Pointal.
5. The Chives spread open.
6. The Pointal, magnified.
This fine variety of the Prickly-stalked Geranium, was introduced, at the same time with the white variety, by Mr. Francis Masson, to the Royal Gardens, Kew, in the year 1795. It is a tender plant, and requires the heat of the hot-house, through the winter months to preserve it, being a native of that part of Africa near the Namaqua land, which is in most parts a barren, arid sand, extremely hot and parched, experiencing little change through the whole year. The propagation is either produced by cuttings, or from the roots, which are tuberous, in most instances, if the plant is kept in light sandy peat earth. The drawing was made, in March this year, at the Nursery of Mr. J. Colville, King’s Road, Chelsea.[Pg 57]