It flowers in May, and ripens its seeds in June.

It will grow in almost any soil or situation, is propagated by offsets from the root, which it puts out most plentifully, so as indeed sometimes to be troublesome.  Is a native of Germany.

[55]

Geranium striatum.  Striped Geranium.

Class and Order.

Monadelphia Decandria.

Generic Character.

Monogynia. Stigmata 5. Fructus rostratus 5-coccus.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

GERANIUM striatum pedunculis bifloris, foliis quinquelobis:  lobis medio dilatatis, petalis bilobis venosoreticulatus. Linn.  Syst.  Vegetab. p. 616.

GERANIUM striatum pedunculis bifloris, foliis caulinis trilobis, obtuse crenatis. Miller’s Dict.

GERANIUM Romanum versicolor sive striatum.

The variable striped Cranesbill. Park.  Parad. p. 229.

[Illustration:  55]

This species is distinguished by having white petals, finely reticulated with red veins, and the corners of the divisions of the leaves marked with a spot of a purplish brown colour, which PARKINSON has long since noticed.

Is said by LINNAEUS to be a native of Italy, is a very hardy plant, flowers in May and June, and may be propagated by parting its roots in Autumn, or by seed; prefers a loamy soil and shady situation.

[56]

Geranium lanceolatum.  Spear-Leaved Geranium.

Class and Order.

Monadelphia Decandria.

Generic Character.

Monogyna. Stigmata 5. Fructus rostratus 5-coccus.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

GERANIUM glaucum calycibus monophyllis, foliis lanceolatis integerrimis glaucis, caule erecto suffruticoso. Linn.  Syst.  Vegetab. p. 614.  Supp.  Pl. p. 306.

[Illustration:  56]

This elegant and very singular species of Geranium appears to have been first cultivated in this country; its introduction was attended with circumstances rather unusual.  Mr. LEE, Nurseryman of the Vineyard, Hammersmith, in looking over some dried specimens in the Possession of Sir JOSEPH BANKS, which he had recently received from the Cape of Good Hope, was struck with the singular appearance of this Geranium, no species having before been seen in this country with spear-shaped leaves; on examining the specimens attentively, he perceived a few ripe seeds in one of them, those he solicited, and obtained; and to his success in making them vegetate, we are indebted for the present species.

The shape of the leaf readily suggested the name of lanceolatum, an epithet by which it has been generally distinguished in this country, and which, from its extreme fitness, we have continued, notwithstanding young Professor LINNAEUS has given it that of glaucum, though, at the same time, his illustrious father had distinguished another species by the synonymous term of glaucophyllum.