Geranium Family. — Geraniaceæ
| Cranesbill. | Geranium maculatum. |
| Wild Geranium. |
Found in lush grass, or light shade, in fields and roadside banks, during May and June.
The stalk, single at first, but presently parting into twice-forking branches, is from 10 to 18 inches in height, and leafy above the branches; its surface is hairy, and color yellow-green.
The large leaf is 3- to 5-times divided with sharp-pointed tips, an irregularly toothed margin, distinctly showing ribs, hairy surface; yellowish-green in color. The leaves are set on stems in pairs, or near the flowers are placed close together and immediately upon the stalk. The size is variable, but often quite large.
The flower has 5 rounded petals that are somewhat bearded at the base; their texture is so fine it plainly shows the veins, the surface is very smooth, their edges slightly curve, and the color is a delicate pinkish-lavender; the calyx with its 5 needle-pointed tips is hairy, and light green; the 10 long stamens are spreading, and the pistil is 5-parted. The flowers, on short stems, are set in pairs, or in a loose, leafy terminal group.
At the joints of the stems are a pair of leaves and several tiny leafkins. Though set in occasional pairs the blossoms open one at a time. It is noticeable that the flowers which open in cool weather, or in a shady place, are almost crimson in hue, the color being always very variable. The leafage is especially brilliant in autumn, and sometimes as early as July a leaf will be found turned to a vivid scarlet-red. The curious and decorative seed-vessel gives the plant its fantastic folk-name.
Herb Robert. Geranium Robertianum.
Found on moist and shaded banks; in chief profusion of bloom from June to November, though stray flowers may be found in every month of the year save February.
The widely branching, leafy stalk, from 3 to 18 or more inches in height, is very slender and apparently weak-fibred, and covered with soft whitish hairs; it is red or crimson, green only when newly grown.
The leaf is thrice (and sometimes again) divided, with a triangular spread to its shape; the margin is cut into little rounded notches, each with a pointed tip; it is very thin in texture, and downy with hairs; a strong vigorous green in color. The leaves are on long slender stems, in pairs and groups.
The small urn-shaped flower has 5 wedge-shaped petals, of a delicate thin texture, and a violet-tinted rose color, rather deep in hue, and marked with paler lines; the pistil is rose color, the 10 stamens brownish. The 5 divisions of the hairy calyx hug the petals closely, and turn their sharp little tips out under their curve; it is pale, with green veins and margins. The flowers, on their slender stems, are set in pairs, terminally and along the stalk,—but one of the pair comes into bloom at once usually.
The stalk, with all its remarkable vitality, is weak at the root, and the plant is forced to lie somewhat upon the ground or rest against its sturdier neighbors. It takes kindly to indoor potting, and will bloom freely through the winter if kept in a cool place.
| Ladies’ Sorrel. | Oxalis corniculata, var. stricta. |
| Yellow Wood Sorrel. | |
| Sheep Sorrel. |
Found in gardens and moist woodlands from June to October.
The branching, leafy stalk, about 6 or 8 inches in height, is smooth, silky with hairs when newly grown, and a clear, light green color.
The leaf is compound, with 3 broad, short, heart-shaped leaflets, that are somewhat folded on the midrib, and are thin, delicate, smooth; a clear green, paler underneath. The leaves, on their long slender stems, are alternately arranged.
The 5 spreading petals of the small flower are delicately thin, and show the veins faintly; they are a bright clean yellow, while the 5-parted shallow calyx is green; the 5 long and 5 short stamens which are joined together at the base are yellow. The flowers are arranged in a group of 2 to 6 on a long, light green stem, that springs from the angle of the leaf-stem and is generally of the same length.
Bud, blossom, and seed-pod may often be seen together on this plant, as is common to such a prolonged season of bloom. The pod is 5-sided, somewhat fuzzy with down, and bright green. Though hard to uproot, as the gardener knows, because of its underground runners, the plant is weak and apt to flop. The leaflets close entirely upon their midribs at night; their juice is slightly sour, and relished by children, who detect in its acid taste a sufficient resemblance to the Red Sorrel (R. acetosa) to warrant the folk-name given this oxalis.
| Jewel-Weed. | Impatiens fulva. |
| Spotted Touch-me-not. | |
| Lady’s Ear-Drop. | |
| Balsam. |
Found in moist and shaded places from July to September.
This large, branching, leafy plant, from 1 to 3 or 4 feet in height, is weak-fibred and juicy; its stalk is slightly ribbed, and swollen at the joints, very smooth, and a pale reddish-green.
The large oval leaf, with its tapering tip and broad base, has a wide midrib, a coarsely toothed margin, and a thin, weak texture; the surface is dull, and pale green, with irresolute flecks of red near the edges. The leaves are alternately placed, on short pale stems.
The curious flower consists of a deep cornucopia-shaped pocket terminating in a slender hook-like spur, and 5 petal-like parts; the texture is fine and smooth, and in color it is orange or red-orange, thickly speckled with tawny-red dots, except the small curving side-parts which are less strong in hue, and even tinged with green; the 5 stamens are gathered in the mouth of the pocket, beneath the stem. The flowers swing on slender foot-stems in small groups.
Like all very juicy plants this wilts quickly when plucked. In bud the wing-like side-parts enfold the pocket. When ripe the seed-pods burst with a sudden snap that throws the seeds to a considerable distance; to this trait, and to the singular shape of the flower, are due the particular favor in which children hold the plant, and afford occasion, also, for the many by-names by which it is called, such as Snap-Weed, Silver-Weed, Lady’s Slipper, Lady’s Pocket, and Kicking Colt.
Pale Touch-me-not (I. pallida) is a light lemon-yellow variety, very like I. fulva, though the pocket of the flower is shorter, the spur less curved, and it is not so numerously spotted.