G E R A N I U M P H O C U M B E N S.
Procumbent Geranium.
C L A S S XVI. ORDER IV.
MO NA DE L PHI A DECANDRIA. Threads united. Ten Chives.
E S S E N T I A L GENERIC CHARACTER.
MO N O G Y N A . Stigmata quinque. Fruflus rof- II O N E P O I N T A L . Five fummlts. Fruit furnithed
tratus, 5-coccus. II with long awns, five dry berries.
S P E C I F I C CHARACTER.
Geranium caule fubcarnoib, proftrato; foliis cordatis,
lobatis, crenato-dentads; calycibns
pentaphyllis; floribns tetrandris, corollis
irregularibus.
Geranium with the item rather flelhy, and proftratej
leaves heart-fliaped, lobed, between
fcolloped and toothed, cups with five leaves;
flowers with four fertile chives; bloflbms
irregular.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1 . The Em pale me r.t.
2. The Chives fpread open, and magnified.
3. The Pointal, and Seed buds, magnified.
T H I S pretty Geranium is rather a delicate plant, and mutt be kept very dry in the winter; as, from
the fituation of its branches, which are prefied to the earth, and rather fleflvy, they will be very apt
to rot, if loo often watered, or placed in a damp part o f the green houfe. It was introduced in the
the year 1 " 6 1 , by G. Hibbert, Efq. in whofe collection, only, we have as yet feen it. Mr. Allen informs
us, that it is to be propagated as well by cuttings, as from the feeds, 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 ihould be planted in light rich earth.
Mere 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 fume of the moil efiential characters of the three
L'Heritierian Genera, which, juftly, formed but divifions of Linnseus's original genus; agreeing with
Geranium and Erodium in the nectariferous c u p ; with Pelargonium in die blofiom and feed; but differing
from all three, in having but four fertile chives, with fix abortive ones. A fact after tain td by
the examination of above fifty flowers, taken from four different plants.