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PELARGONIUM atropurpureum.
Dark purple Stork’s-bill.
P. atropurpureum, umbellis plurifloris, foliis cordatis
jsubtrilobis undulatis insequaliter argute dentatis,
stipulis cordato-laneeolatis acuminatis subdentatis,
petalis rotundato-obovatis.
Pelargonium Hoareanum, purpureum. Hoare MSS.
Stem shrubby, branching; branches flexuose, thickly
clothed with short villous hairs, as are the petioles, peduncles,
and calyx. Leaves cordate, acute, often 3-
lobed, undulate, sharply but unequally toothed with
rigid horny teeth, downy on both sides. Petioles
widely flattened on the upper side and convex on the
lower, a little widened at the base. Stipules cordate or
broadly lanceolate, acuminate, often toothed. Peduncles
cylindrical, a little bent upwards, several-flowered.
Involucre of from 4 to 6 bractes, which are unequal,
lanceolate, and taper-pointed. Calyx 5-cleft,
segments long, unequal, lanceolate, acute. Nectariferous
tube unequal in length, some nearly as long, others
not half as long as the calyx. Petals 5, roundly ob-
ovate, the two uppermost largest of a dark purple
with a large velvetty spot in the centre, and numerous
beautiful dark stripes which branch in all directions ;
lower petals lighter with reddish veins. Filaments 10*
united at the base, seven bearing anthers. Pollen
orange-coloured. Germen and aristae villous. Style
flesh-coloured, slightly hairy at the base and smooth
upwards. Stigmas 5, reflexed.
This handsome plant is also of hybrid origin, and
was raised from seed in the collection of Sir R. C.
Hoare: from a fine flowering specimen, communicated