Tab. 5434. 

 BEGONIA Mannii. 



Mr. Manns Begonia. 



Nat. Ord. Begoniace^e. — Moncecia Polyantiria. 



Gen. Char. Masc. Calyx 0. Corolla polypetala, petalis plerumque 4, in- 

 aequalibus. Fcem. Calyx 0. Corolla petalis 4-9 plerumqne iiucqualibus. Slyli 

 3, bifidi. Capsula triquctra, trilocularis, polysperma. 



Begonia Mannii; erecta, succulenta, bipedalis, foliis jequilateralibus ovatis 

 acuminatis irregulariter remoto-serratis supra glabris subtus discoloribus 

 minutissime copiose punctulatis, petiolis breviusculis costisque subtus rufo- 

 hirsutulis, stipulis lanceolatis, pedunculis glomeratis subtrifloris axillaribus, 

 floribus tetrapetalis roseis, petalis 2 minoribus, staminibus arete in conum 

 imbricatis, ovariis capsulisque cylindraceis minute squamulosis, 4-locu- 

 laribus, stigmatibus lineari-elavatis. 



We have above given only the old generic character of Begonia, 

 as considered in its integrity. The late Dr. Klotzsch has, in his 

 1 Essay on Begonia,' formed several new genera, chiefly of Ame- 

 rican species, and M. De Candolle is far advanced with his ma- 

 terials, from a complete study of most ample suites of species 

 and specimens of the family for a forthcoming volume of the 

 ' Prodromus.' A new form among Begoniacea has lately been 

 discovered by Mr. Mann, is tropical, viz. the B. prismatocarpa, 

 figured at Tab. 5307 of this work (vol. 88, for 1862), possessing 

 an elongated, pod-like 4-celled capsule, quite destitute of wing ! 

 We are since in possession of two other West African species, 

 with the same character, from the same indefatigable collector, of 

 which one is here given. It was introduced living to Kew Gar- 

 dens, in 1862, and was found on the Peak of Fernando Po, at an 

 elevation of not more than 1300 feet above the level of the sea. 



Descr. Epiphytal. Stem succulent, one and a half to two 

 feet high, unbranched in our specimens, and glabrous. Leaves 

 four to five inches long, petiolate, ovate, acuminate, scarcely per- 

 ceptibly unequal-sided, distantly and irregularly subdentate, pen- 



MARCH 1st, 1864. 



