THE BEGONIA. 



379 



the African continent. It is also known as B. par- 

 vifolia, B. floribunda, and B. semperflorens. 



Begonia dubin, Doubtful Elephanfs-ear. — An 

 herbaceous stove species, with unecjually cordate 

 leaves, and white flowers, produced in July. Na- 

 tive of Brazil. 



Begonia fagifoUa, Beech-leaved Elephanfs- 

 ear. — A creeping-stemraed stove plant with ovate 

 leaves, which together with the stems are covered 

 with soft white hairs; it bears small white flow- 

 ers in g'reat profusion in the spring months. Na- 

 tive of Brazil. Called also B. pendula, and B. re- 

 pens. It is beautiful grown on a trellis. 



Begonia fischeri, Fischer's Elephant's ear. — A 

 branching-stemmed stove species, growing two or 

 three feet high : the leaves are rather small, un- 

 equally cordate, silk}' above and crimson beneath; 

 the flowers are blush-coloured. It blooms from 

 February to April. Native of Brazil. 



Begonia geranii/olia, Geranium-leaved Ele- 

 phant's-ear. — A tuberous-rooted herbaceous stove 

 species, with small wavy leaves, like these of a 

 geranium, and pretty deep pink flowers. It blooms 

 in September and was introduced from Lima. 



Begonia heracleifolia, Heracleum-leaved Ele- 

 phant's-ear. — A strong-growing herbaceous spe- 

 cies, with large palmated leaves, the stalks of 

 which are two feet long, covered with white hairs, 

 which rise from crimson spots: it has large 

 bunches of blush or pale pink flowers. Though 

 rather coarse, it is a very pretty species. It 

 blooms in the spring; and comes from Mexico. 



Begonia hirsuta, Shaggy-leaved Elephant's-ear. 

 A fleshj—stemmed, herbaceous stove-plant; the 

 leaves hairy, unequally semicordate ; the flowers 

 are white. It is a biennial, flowering in May and 

 June. Native of the West Indies. 



Begonia hirtella, Fringed Elephant's-ear. — A 

 slender-stemmed stove-species, from three to four 

 feet high, with unequal, pointed leaves, and white 

 flowers, produced in small clusters, from July to 

 October. It is from the West Indies. Sometimes 

 called B. acuminata. 



Begonia homonyma, Kindred Elephanfs-ear. — 

 A fleshy-stemmed stove plant, resembling B. par- 

 vifolia, growing from two to three feet high, with 

 unequally angled leaves, and white flowers. It 

 blooms during the summer and autumn. Native 

 of Brazil. Also called B. sinuata. 



Begonia hookeri, Hooker's Elephanfs-ear. — 

 This ia the B. semperflorens of some authors. It 

 is a very pretty species, with short stems, and 

 nearly round leaves, which are bright green, 

 smooth and shining; it has pure white flowers in 

 short panicles from the axils of the young leaves. 

 It blooms through the greater part of tlie year, 

 and was introduccil from Mexico. It is also some- 

 times called B. spathulata and B. grandiflora. 



Begonia huinilis, Dwarf Elephanfs-ear. — A 

 fleshy erect-stemmed stove-plant, of dwarf habit, 

 with semi-cordate, oblique leaves, and white flow- 

 ers, which open in September and October. It 

 • is a biennial. Native of tlie West Indies. 



Begonia hijdrocotylifolia, Hydrocotyle-leaved 

 Elephanfs-ear. — A dwarf, stemless, or very short- 

 stemmed stove-plant, with numerous round, shin- 



ing, (lark green fleshy leaves, reddish beneath; 

 and loose panicles of numerous light pink, very 

 handsome flowers. It is one of the handsomest of 

 the whole genus. It flowers in March and April, 

 and remains a long time in bloom. 



Begonia incana, Hoary Elephanfs-ear. — An 

 herbaceous stove species, which has hoary leaves, 

 and pink and white flowers. It is from Mexico, 

 and blooms from April to July. 



Begonia, incarnata. Flesh-coloured Elephanfs- 

 ear. — A branching stove-plant, with stems four 

 feet high, large oblique, ilark green leaves, and 

 pale pink flowers, in good-sized clusters. It 

 blooms almost throughout the year. Native of 

 Mexico. 



Begonia insignis, Remarkable Elephant's-ear. 

 A fleshy-stemmed, erect-growing, stove-plant, 

 with unequally cordate, acuminate leaves, and 

 spreading, drooping panicles of large, handsome 

 pink flowers. It blooms in December and January. 

 Native of South America. 



Begonia laurina. Bay-leaved Elephant's ear. — 

 A strong, branching-stemmed stove species, grow- 

 ing four feet high, with ovate, beautifully serrated 

 leaves, and graceful clusters of pink flowers; pro- 

 duced in summer. 



Begonia longipes. Long-stalked Elephanfs-ear. 

 A sub-shrubby, fleshy-stemmed plant, growing 

 five feet high, with large, unequally-lobed leaves, 

 and clusters of white flowers on very long stalks, 

 produced from April to August. Native of Mexi- 

 co. Also called B. macrophylla, and B. odorata. 



Begonia vmnicata, Collared Elephant's-ear. — 

 An herbaceous, perennial stove-plant, with broad 

 roundish, shining, light green, fringed leaves, the 

 stalks and under part of which are furnished with 

 a peculiar sort of scaliness, which is called mani- 

 cate by botanists; the flowers are produced in a 

 large spreading panicle, and are of supassing grace 

 and beauty, very numerous, and of a delicate pink 

 colour. It blooms in February and March. Na- 

 tive of Brazil. 



Begonia ;/iar<ta/ia, Martins' Elephanfs-ear. — A 

 very handsome delicate, herbaceous-stemmed stove 

 plant, with tuberous roots, and obliquely ovate 

 leaves; it has numerous axillarj', usually two- 

 flowered peduncles, bearing very large deep pink 

 flowers. It blossoms in the summer anil autumn 

 months. It is one of the most beautiful of the 

 whole family, and was introduced from Brazil. 



Begonia meyerii, Meyer's Elephanfs-ear. — A 

 wooiiy-stemmed, erect-growing, unbranched stove 

 plant, grpwing four feet high, with roundish, 

 woolly leaves, and dense clusters of white flowers, 

 produced in February, March and April. Native 

 of Brazil. 



Begonia mnnaptera, One-winged Elephanfs-ear. 

 An herbaceous, tuberous-rooted, stove species, 

 with somewhat reniform leaves, and while flow- 

 ers. Introduced from Brazil; and blooms from 

 August to November. 



Begonia mvltibubillosa, Bulbillose Elephanfs- 

 ear. — A tuberous rooted, herbaceous species, 

 which produces numerous bulbils, or little bulbs. 

 It has roundish leaves, and pink flowers. It blooms 

 ' from May to September. It is a native of Brazil. 



