Tas. 7657. 
BEGONIA venosa. 
Native of Brasil, 
Nat. Ord. BrGonracEa, 
Genus Breonta, L.; (Benth. & Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. i. p. 841.) 
Bzconia (Rachia) venosa; caule erecto elato valde robusto folioso sublanugi- 
noso, foliis amplis subpeltatim petiolatis auriformibus obtusis basi late 
bilobis margine undulatis palmatinerviis crassiusculis supra luride 
viridibus pilis flaccidis albis rufisque sublanatis, subtus densius lanatis 
nervis subsimplicibus validis, stipulis maximis (2-pollicaribus) inter- 
nodio exquilongis erectis oblongis subacutis inflatis tenuiter rigide 
membranaceis pallide rufis parallelinerviis venulis transversis reti- 
culatis, pedunculis valde elongatis erectis, cymis corymbiformibus medio- 
cribus bisexualibus, bracteis parvis lineari-oblongis caducis, floribus 
breviuscule pedicellatis ad ? poll. latis albis, mase. sepalis 2 orbiculatis 
dorso tomentosis v. — petalis 2 minoribus et angustioribus, 
staminibus numerosis, filamentis brevissimis, antheris oblongis, connective 
producto crasso apice rotundato, fl. fem. sepalis 4 orbiculatis, petalo 
unico minore oblongo, ovario 3-loculari, placentis bipartitis segmentis 
undique ovuliferis, stylis brevibus hippocrepiformibus undique stigma- 
tosis cornubus brevibus tortis. 
B. venosa, Skaz in Kew Bulletin, 1899, ined. 
A magnificent and very distinct species, remarkable for 
the frosted, silvery appearance of the upper surface of the 
leaves, and the very large inflated stipules, which are of 
a membranous, transparent, but firm consistence, and 
are traversed by strong, straight, parallel veins, the inter- 
spaces being crossed by capillary reticulating venules. They 
contrast by their pale, reddish colour with the bright green 
of the stems which they embrace, all but concealing the 
internodes. The flowers are comparatively inconspicuous. 
B. venosa falls into none of the sections of the genus 
as these are defined by Klotzsch and A. de Candolle, but 
its close affinity in habit, indumentum, foliage, stamens, 
styles and placentation with B. incana, Lindl. deter- 
mines its place to be with that plant in sect. Rachia, 
A.DC., providing that the character hitherto given to 
Rachia, of sepals 3, petals 2, be altered to sepals 2-4, 
petals 1-2. B. incana is a native of hot, dry, sunny 
places in Mexico. The native country of B. venosa is not 
satisfactorily known. Mr. Thos. Christy, F.L.8., who 
sent to Kew Herbarium the specimen here figured, together 
Junge lst, 1899. 
