138 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 
like leaves. The flowers are produced at long intervals, and 
after perfecting seeds the plant dies. The wood is used for 
building purposes, water pipes, domestic utensils, fishing 
rods, ete. 
Begonia nelumbiifolia. Begoniaceae. — A fibrous-rooted 
begonia, native of Mexico, used ornamentally in conserva- 
tories. The plant has a short, thick rhizome, with large pel- 
tate leaves, hairy on the under side. The flowers are small, 
white or pink. 
Bignonia argyreo-violascens. Bignoniaceae.— A South 
erican plant useful as an ornamental climber in green- 
houses and outdoors in warm climates. It has cordate leaves, 
purple when young, later becoming veined and blotched with 
white. The flowers are purple. 
Bignonia venusta. Bignoniaceae—A woody climber of 
Brazil. It is a very. profuse bloomer, having tubular flowers 
2-3 inches long, crimson-orange in color. 
Bignonia Clytostoma var. callestegioides. 
Bougainvillea glabra. Nyctaginaceae.—A woody climber 
of South America. The leaves are dark green, glabrous, and 
_ the flowers are rosy red and distinctly veined. The plant is 
very ornamental, and is used extensively in conservatories. 
Brahea calcarea. Palmae—aA spineless palm of Mexico, 
closely related to and resembling Washingtonia filifera. 
Carludovica palmata. Cyclanthaceae. Panama-hat palm. 
—An important economic plant of South America. The 
leaves are palm-shaped and borne at the ends of long, slender 
stalks. They are gathered when very young and cut into 
narrow strips which are then steeped successively in boiling 
water, in water acidulated with lemon juice, and finally in 
cold water, and allowed to dry. When the bleaching is com- 
plete the strips are used for making Panama hats. 
Carludovica latifolia, East Indies. 
Caryota Rwmphiana. Palmae. Fish-tail palm.—A native 
palm of Malaysia, remarkable for its fish- shaped leaflets. 
After reaching maturity the plant begins flowering at the to 
and sometimes downward until the stem is exhausted. It is 
a useful greenhouse plant. 
Caryota mitis (fish-tail palm), Malaysia. 
Cerozylon andicolum. Palmae. Wax-palm.—An orna- 
mental palm, native of Colombia and Venezuela, The wax 
is naturally secreted on the stem, one specimen being said 
to yield as much as 25 pounds, The beauty of the palm is 
