Leaves long-stalked; blade obliquely cordate, as much as 
10 in. long, more or less distinctly lobed, minutely toothed, 
lateral lobes and tip sharp-pointed, basal lobes rounded, 
crimson below, green above except the crimson nerves, with 
a paler zone; stalks as much as 6-8 in. long; stipules 
narrow, pointed, about an inch long. Clusters axillary, 
8-10-flowered, pendulous, shorter than the leaves; bracts 
small, inconspicuous. owers coarsely hairy, unisexual in 
the same clusters, vermilion, 14-12 in. across. Male flowers: 
rianth of 4 petaloid leaves; 2 exterior nearly oval, about 
bin. long ; 2 interior narrow-ovate, less than 4 in. long; 
stamens numerous, in a stalked head. Female flowers: 
perianth nearly equally 5-leaved; leaves oblong-ovate ; 
styles crested. Capsule hairy, pendulous from a sharp bend 
at the top of the stalk, unequally 3-winged, wings rounded, 
larger one 2 in. long, smaller } in. long.—W. Borrine 
HEMSLEY. 
Cuttivation.— Begonia cathayana was introduced into 
cultivation by Mr. A. K. Bully of Ness, Neston, by means 
of seeds collected for him in China by Dr. A. Henry. The 
stock passed into the hands of Messrs. F. Sander and Sons, 
St. Albans, from whom the plant figured was obtained for 
Kew. Messrs. Sander and Sons have raised a batch of 
hybrids from B. cathayana and B. Rex which are remarkable 
for richness of leaf coloration, B. cathayana is a handsome 
stove plant. Under liberal treatment it develops numerous 
stems 18 in, high, bearing in September numerous clusters 
of flowers. It ripens seeds under cultivation. Cuttings of 
the stems and leaves root freely —W. Watson. 
Fig. 1, a stamen; 2, stigma; 3, cross section of a capsule; 4, a pseudo- 
——— flower with a superior ovary; 5, a hair from the perianth :— 
a arged. 
