Flora Medica

GERANIACE^E.Nat. syst.ed. 2. p. 137.GERANIUM.Sepals and petals each 5, equal. Stamens 10, of which the5 fertile ones are alternate with the others and larger. Nectariferousglands at the base of the larger stamens. Awns of thecarpels with their inner sides glabrous, at length separatingelastically from the base of the axis upwards, and becoming circinatelyrevolute. Herbaceous or rarely suffrutescent plants.Leaves palmately lobed. Peduncles 1 -2 flowered.451. G. maculatum Linn. sp. pi. 955. Cav. diss. vi. t. 86. f. 2.Bigelow med. bot. i. t. 8. DC. prodr.i. 642. Common in theUnited States, in low grounds.Root perennial, horizontal, thick, rough and knobby. Stem erect,round, clothed with reflexed hairs. Leaves spreading, hairy, palmate,with 3, 5 or 7 lobes, variously cut and toothed at their extremities ;those of the root on long petioles, those at the middle of the stem,opposite and petioled, those at the top, opposite and nearly sessile.Stipules and bracts subulate. Peduncles round, hairy, tumid at base,generally 2-flowered. Sepals 5, oblong, ribbed, mucronate ;the outermosthairy. Petals 5, obovate, not emarginate, light purple, markedwith green at the base. Stamens 10, erect or curving outward, thealternate ones a little longer, with nectariferous glands at the base ;filaments dilated and monadelphous at base ;anthers oblong, deciduous,so that the number frequently appears less than 10. Stylestraight, as long as the stamens ; stigmas 5, at first erect, afterwardsrecurved. Root a most powerful astringent, containing considerablymore tannin than Kino. According to Bigelow, particularly suitedto the treatment of such diseases as continue from debility after theremoval of their exciting cause. Tincture an excellent local applicationin sore throat and ulcerations of the mouth. May be used in powder,extract or tincture.452. G. Robertianum Linn. sp. pi. 955. E. Bot. t. 1486.Curt.fl. Lond. i. t. 52. DC. i.prodr. 644. A common weedin waste ground, under walls, banks, and everywhere.Root tapering. Stems several, spreading in every direction, round,leafy, branched, red, brittle and succulent, a little hairy, chiefly on 1side. Leaves opposite, shining, more or less hairy, on long stalks,ternate, cut in a pedate manner, their outline unequally 5-angled. Peduncleslateral and terminal, each bearing 2 bright crimson or occasionallywhite flowers. Calyx brownish, hairy, with 10 angles whenclosed. Petals obovate, entire. Stamens awl-shaped, smooth. Capsuleobovate, downy, carinate, curiously marked at the outer edge withelevated interbranching wrinkles. Seeds perfectly smooth and even.A popular remedy in Wales in nephritic complaints.221