loom; these
flowers for the most part go off without being followed by any seed, and
when any seed is produced, of which we have seen a few instances, there
is generally one perfect and four abortive, frequently all of them fail;
the blossoms vary in the number of their stamina, four are most usually
apparent, three superior, and that very constantly, one inferior and
often two, we have never observed seven, the proper number of fertile
stamina in a _Pelargonium_: the whole plant is covered with short white
hairs which give to the foliage a somewhat silvery hue.

Instances have occurred in which one or more of the white petals have
had a stripe of red in them, and we have observed that the dark colour
at the base of the uppermost petals is, in a certain degree, soluble in
water, for on the plants being watered the white petals have here and
there become stained by the colouring matter proceeding from it, and
which, in a diluted state, is of a purplish tint: as the flowers decay,
this apparently black part, distinguished by the roughness of its
surface, arising from prominent lucid points, and which essentially
distinguish the species, is sometimes perforated with numerous small
holes.

Mr. MASSON, who is employed to collect plants at the Cape, for the Royal
Garden at Kew, and in which employment he so honourably acquits himself,
as the _Hortus Kewensis_ bears ample testimony, sent hither seeds of
this _Pelargonium_, which flowered in that matchless collection in the
year 1792; a few plants of it have also been raised from Cape seeds, by
Mr. WILLIAMS, Nurseryman, at Hammersmith, some of which flowered this
spring with Mr. COLVILL, Nurseryman, Kings-Road.

It must be several years before the lovers of plants can be generally
gratified with the possession of this plant, most of its branches
running out speedily into flowering stalks, form few proper for
cuttings, which are struck with difficulty, and perfect seeds are
sparingly produced.

It appears to be equally hardy as most others of the same tribe, and to
require a similar treatment.

[241]

FAGONIA CRETICA. CRETIAN FAGONIA.

_Class and Order._

DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 5-phyllus. _Petala_ 5, cordata. _Caps._ 5-locularis,
10-valvisi, loculis 1-spermis.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

FAGONIA _cretica_ spinosa, foliolis lanceolatis planis laevibus. _Linn.
Sp. Pl. ed 3. p. 553._ _Mant. p. 380._ _Linn. Syst.