Order XXXVII
VINIFERÆ.
The vine is the type and representative of this order. Cissus and Ampelopsis differ little from it in botanical characters, and not at all in habit. The common grape is the only species that bears really good fruit; the American kinds, with large fleshy berries, being spoiled by a disagreeable foxy flavor, which is not found to be removed by cultivation. 454 Leéa W. 501 Vitis P. S. 502 Ampelópsis W.
ORDER XXXIII. 305 Císsus W.
GERANIACEÆ.
The Geraniums are well known to all gardeners for their beauty, and the facility with which hybrid varieties are produced among them. Geranium and Eródium are chiefly natives of the northern hemisphere; and Pelargonium of the southern. Different as they appear from Viniferæ in most respects, there are some points in which a curious resemblance may be found between the two orders. The young stems of both are articulated and separable at the articulations; and the lower leaves are opposite, while the upper ones are alternate. In Geraniaceæ no tendrils are produced, but the peduncles are opposite to the leaves, as in Vítis, and occupy the place of tendrils. M. Decandolle observes, that of the true Geraniaceæ, some are slightly acid, especially those of which the leaves and bark are succulent; several exhale a resinous smell which is sometimes agreeable, but occasionally so powerful as to be unpleasant. The resinous principle is so abundant in Geranium spinósum, that its stem burns like a torch, and exhales an agreeable perfume. The most common property of European geraniums is to be astringent, which is chemically determined by their juice being blackened by sulphate of iron; this is particularly remarkable in G. Robertianum and sanguíneum, which are both accounted vulnerary, and in G. moschatum, pratense, and others, in which it is united to a slight aromatic principle, whence they have been recommended for various purposes, and among others for removing calculous disorders. The astringent property of the geraniums is also present in G. maculátum, which grows in much abundance about Philadelphia; the root of this plant, boiled in milk, is used for the cholera in children. Barton is of opinion, that it would be a good substitute for gum kino in nephritis and obstinate diarrhœas. 1465 Monsónia W. 1460 Eródium W. 1461 Pelargonium W.
ORDER XXXIX. 1463 Geránium W.
OXALIDEÆ.
Formerly confounded with the last order. It is the opinion of modern botanists, that the species are more nearly allied to Rutaceæ or Zygophylleæ, and that their character and peculiar habit is quite sufficient to distinguish them. The beauty of the genus O'xalis is very great, and the readiness with which the species may be cultivated and caused to flower, would have been expected to make them universal favorites; they are not, however, much seen in cultivation. Their properties are well known: all of them have a slightly acid taste, whence some have occasionally been employed as salad; their acidity is very agreeable and depends upon the presence of a small quantity of oxalate of potassa. In some of the species of equinoctial America oxalic acid exists in great abundance. Several species are employed in Brazil as a remedy for certain fevers of that country. 1064 Biophýtum Dec. 1065 O'xalis W.