44 



BEGONIA crassicauHs. 

 Thick-stemmed Begonia. 



MONCECIA POLYANDRIA. 

 Nat. ord. Begoniace^. 

 BEGONIA. Supra, vol. 4. fol. 284. 



B. crassicauHs ; foliis hysteranthiis palmatis alte partitis laciniis acnminatis 

 subpinnatifidis inciso-clentatis subtus petioloque ferrugineo-pilosis, caule 

 carnoso breviarticulato crasso insequali, paniculis densis multifloris fer- 

 rugineo-pubescentibus, bracteis ovatis obtusis convexis floribusque dise- 

 palis glabris, sepalis rotundis, ovarii alis insequalibus angulo superiore 

 rotiindato. Supi'a misc. no. 2 1 . 



A handsome species, introduced from Guatemala through 

 the Horticultural Society from Mr. Hartweg. Like all the 

 genus it is very easy to cultivate, requiring nothing more than 

 a cool damp stove, and any sort of light peaty soil. 



It has the singular property of producing its narrow 

 panicles of white and pink flowers, without the leaves. In 

 the month of February they appear in profusion upon rugged 

 fleshy gouty stems, and the leaves are not formed till some 

 weeks later. Each flower consists of two sepals only, which, 

 being rounded and convex, give the appearance of a bivalve 

 shell, or, when the flowers are unexpanded, the blossoms may 

 be compared to clusters of fourpenny pieces. 



The species is allied to Begonia heracleifolia, with which 

 it much agrees in the form of the leaves ; but in that species 

 the flowers appear in cymose panicles on the end of lono- 

 erect peduncles, and at the same time with the leaves. The 

 angles of the fruit too are much less rounded ofl". 



