Begonia. monoecia polyandria, 647 



but there are also two empty cavities, one in each side of the 

 seed. Seed bent double, with tiie two extreuiilics pointing 

 to the base, by one of" which it is affixed to the bottom of the 

 drupe. 



8. S. cordij'olia. Roxh. 



Polygamous. Leaves cordate ; scapes simple. Stamina 

 from six to twelve. 



Grows in standing sweet water, in the vicinity of Calcutta; 

 flowering time the latter part of the rains. 



Root fibrous, annual. Xeayes radical, long-petioled, round 

 cordate, apex circular; behind deeply divided into two broad, 

 somewhat pointed lobes, margins entire, smooth on both 

 sides, many-nerved, about two inches broad, and less than 

 three long-. Petioles shealhing at the base, their length de- 

 pends much on the depth of the water ; tapering*, somewhat 

 angular, smooth. Scapes about as long as the petioles, like 

 them ending in an oblono* raceme, of from five to eio-ht 

 flowers. Bractes, or involucres, three-fold, to the lower three 

 there are always two hermaphrodite flowers, and three to the 

 rest, one of which is generally male. Hermaphrodite 

 FLOWERS. Calyx and corol as in the genus. Filaments ge- 

 nerally from nine to twelve inserted round the base of the 

 germs. Anthers cordate. Germs numerous, compressed. 

 Style short. Stigma simple. Capsules from three to four 

 hundred, much compressed on a globular naked receptacle, 

 surrounded with a deeply dentated margin, in each a single 

 seed, bent double, as in S. obtufiijolia. Male flowers. 

 Calyx and corol as above. Stamens from six to ten, sur- 

 rounding a few abortive germs. 



BEGONIA. Schreh. gen. N. 1442. 

 Male calyx none. Corol four-petalled, two opposite, 

 larger. Stamina numerous. Female calyx none. Corol 



