crane's-bill

2 definitions found

crane's-bill - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Geranium \Ge*ra"ni*um\ (j[-e]*r[=a]"n[i^]*[u^]m), n. [L., fr.
     Gr. gera`nion, from ge`ranos crane: cf. F. g['e]ranium. See
     Crane, n.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. (Bot.) A genus of plants having a beaklike torus or
        receptacle, around which the seed capsules are arranged,
        and membranous projections, or stipules, at the joints.
        Most of the species have showy flowers and a pungent odor.
        Called sometimes crane's-bill.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Floriculture) A cultivated pelargonium.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Many plants referred to the genus Geranium by the
           earlier botanists are now separated from it under the
           name of Pelargonium, which includes all the commonly
           cultivated "geraniums", mostly natives of South Africa.
           [1913 Webster]

  Crane's-bill \Crane's"-bill`\ (kr?nz"b?l`), n.
     1. (Bot.) The geranium; -- so named from the long axis of the
        fruit, which resembles the beak of a crane. --Dr. Prior.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Surg.) A pair of long-beaked forceps.
        [1913 Webster]