are small in size and weak in growth owing to having 
received unsuitable treatment, they are alike in bearing a 
close resemblance to B. gracilis, with which, as already 
remarked, their identity has been suggested. Of the three 
forms, that now figured from a plant which flowered in the 
Kew collection in July, 1909, is certainly the finest, and the 
extent to which selection has led, in this case, to the evolu- 
tion of an improved garden race may perhaps be best 
estimated by a comparison of our illustration with that given, 
at plate 2966 of this work, of B. diversifolia, Graham, which 
is now recognised as being only a state of B. Martiana. 
Our plant grows well when kept in a frame or greenhouse 
and shaded from bright sunshine. The whitish, irregularly 
shaped tubers lie dormant from about October until the 
following April, when they develop several stems which 
grow rapidly and flower freely in July. The plants ripen 
seeds and also produce clusters of small bulbil-like buds— 
which may be used for propagation in place of seeds, in the 
axils of the leaves. 
Descriprion.—Herb; terrestrial; tuber ellipsoid-oblong, 
fleshy, about 2 in. long; stem 1-14 ft. high; branches erect, 
fleshy, glabrous, leafy. Leaves petioled, obliquely cordate, 
somewhat acute, twice crenate, glabrous or sparingly hairy, 
3-6 in. long, 2-3 in. wide; petioles 1—11 in. long; stipules 
wide ovate, almost entire. Flowers bracteate and bracteolate, 
axillary, solitary or clustered, large, rose-pink, the males 
4-merous, the females usually 5-merous;_ bracts leafy, 
gradually diminishing upwards and subconcave ;_ bracteoles 
wide ovate, obtuse, almost membranous. Sepals suborbicular, 
1-1} in. wide, subconcave. Petals suborbicular, 5-8 lin. 
wide. Stamens many, their filaments connate below in @ 
short column. Styles 3, connate below, 2-armed above. 
Capsule 3-winged, the wings unequal late; th x 
, qual, crenulate; the ape 
tipped by the persistent styles, 
Figs. 1 and 2, stamens ; 3. stigma ; 4, ovary, in cross-section :—dl enlarged. 
