193
PELARGONIUM inscriptum.
Marked-petal’d Stork's-bill.
P. Ins crip turn, pedunculis paucifloris subpaniculatis,
foliis inferioribus cordatis sublobatis undulatis in-
eequaliter dentatis: superioribus cuneatis inciso-
dentatis, petalis venosissimis, tubo nectarifero ca-
lyce subtriplo breviori.
Stem shrubby, branching, of smallish growth;
branches numerous, erect, thickly clothed with long
spreading villous hairs, as are the petioles, peduncles,
and calyx. Leaves variable; lower ones cordate,
scarcely lobed, much undulate, and toothed with sharp
unequal teeth, strongly and numerously nerved underneath,
hairy on both sides; upper leaves wedge-shaped,
more lobed or incised, sharply toothed, pointed. Petioles
short, flattened and furrowed on the upper side
and convex on the lower, a little widened at the base.
Stipules cordately-ovate, acute, generally toothed. Peduncles
cylindrical, few-flowered. Involucre of six lanceolate
acute fringed bractes. Pedicles unequal in
length, about three times as long as the nectariferous
tube. Calyx 5-cleft; segments erect, lanceolate, taper
pointed. Nectariferous tube very short, often three
times shorter than the calyx. Petals 5, spreading;
two upper ones roundly obovate or obcordate, of a
blush-colour, with a large bright red spot in the
centre, and numerous red and purple streaks and lines
which branch all over the petals; lower petals oblong
or obovate, of rather a lighter colour, also marked
with red lines. Filaments 10, united at the base, seven
bearing anthers, which in our specimens were always
imperfect. Germen villous. Style red, hairy below
and smooth upwards. Stigmas 5, red and revolute.
VOL. IX. BB