Tas. 4984. 
BEGONIA Gruirriruu. 
Mr. Grifith’s Begonia. 
Nat. Ord. Brconracem.—Monecra PotyanpRIA. 
Gen. Char. (Vide supra, Tas. 4172). 
Breonta Grifithii; acaulis, hispido-pubescens, foliis longe petiolatis oblique 
cordatis brevi acuminatis crenato-sinuatis pictis, scapis folio sublongioribus, 
floribus cymosis masculis tetra- foemineis penta-sepalis, sepalis duobus inte- 
rioribus minoribus exterioribus dorso convexis piloso-hispidis, fructu ovali 
hine gibboso hispido alis duabus brevibus tertia basin versus ala majori 
cristeeformi crenato-lobata. 
We received this very beautiful Begonia from Messrs. Hen- 
derson, of the Wellington Road Nursery, St. John’s Wood, 
under the name of B. picta, a name that must have been given 
to it by mistake, for it is extremely different from the well- 
known B. picta of Sir J. E. Smith, figured by us both in the 
‘Exotic Flora,’ t. 89, and in the present work, Tab. 2962. A 
decidedly caulescent species. We find in our Herbarium spe- 
cimens of a Begonia, in every respect corresponding with this, 
gathered by the late Mr. Griffith in Bhotan, whence, through 
some channel or other, the plants now in cultivation were pro- 
bably derived. It flowers in the stove in the winter and spring 
months. 
Descr. Stemless. eaves rising directly from the subterra- 
neous rhizome, large in proportion to the size of the plant, ob- 
liquely cordate, shortly acuminate, having a deep sinus at the 
base, forming two rounded lobes, which lap one over the other, — 
the margin sinuate-crenate, hairy, the hairs short, rising from a 
small, pellucid tubercle, which gives a granulated appearance to 
the surface; colour a dark green, beautifully variegated; some — 
way within the ciliated margin is a broad, pale green line, and 
the margin itself is dark purple, beneath the colour is pale green, 
but deep blood-colour in the centre and at the margin. Lea/- 
stalks nearly as long as the leaves, rather thick, red at the base, 
MAY Ist, 1857. 
