GERANIUM, crane's bill; a genus of the decandria order, belonging to the monodelphia class of plants. There are 57 species; the most remarkable of which are, 1. The Pratense, with a crowfoot leaf, and
Gerard and large blue flowers, a native of many parts of Britain, growing in moist meadows, but is often planted in gardens on account of the beauty of its flowers. Of this there are two varieties, with white, and variegated flowers. 2. The sanguineum, a native of Germany and Switzerland, with deep-red or purple flowers from the side of the branches, one upon each foot-stalk. Of this there are several varieties, differing from one another chiefly in the figure of the stalks and leaves. 3. The phænum, a native of the Alps and Helvetian mountains, with blackish purple flowers, two upon each footstalk. 4. The nodosum, a native of France, with pale purple flowers, two upon each footstalk. 5. The mauorhizum, or sweet-smelling geranium, a native of Germany and Switzerland, with beautiful purple flowers. 6. The striatum, with white flowers, beautifully variegated with purple. 7. The zonale, a native of the Cape of Good Hope, with an hairy lady's-mantle leaf, red flowers, and a shrubby stalk branching six or eight feet high.
The first six species are hardy plants, with fibrous perennial roots, and annual stalks which rise from the root in spring. The flowers come out in May, June, and July; and are extremely numerous, each consisting of five small spreading petals. These are succeeded by plenty of seed in August and September; which, if permitted to scatter, will raise an abundant crop of young plants. They may also be propagated by parting the roots. The last sort is that most commonly cultivated in gardens; but being a native of a warm climate, will not bear the open air here in the winter-time. There is a variety of this species, which is particularly valued on account of its finely variegated leaves.