CUCURBITALES.] BEGONIACE^. 319 



the soft torus which rises up between them and holds them together. I cannot how- 

 ever add that I have ever succeeded m findmg the placentiB absolutely separate, as is 

 the case in a young Cucumber. If the true Begonias, which like B. Meyenii, coccinea, &c., 

 have a solid, not i-lobed placenta, are boiled for an instant in caustic potash, it becomes 

 evident that the real structure is the same, and that there also the placentation is ex- 

 actly the same as in Cucumis, except that the inflexed edges adhere into a solid wedge, 

 and that the matter of the torus which rises between them and holds them together is 

 more copious. The ovary of Begonia Meyenii may even be taken as an excellent illus- 

 tration of the time nature of that of a Cucvu'bit. 



Common in the West Indies, South America, and the East Indies. Brown remarks, 

 that no species has been found on the continent of Africa, though several have occurred 

 in Madagascar and the Isles of France and Bourbon, and one in the island of Johanna. 



The roots are astrmgent and slightly bitter. Those of two species are employed in Peru 

 with success m cases of a flux of blood, or in other visceral diseases in which astringents 

 are employed. They are also said to be useful in cases of scm-vy, and in certain fevers. 

 B . malabarica, and tiiberosa, and several more, are used as pot-herbs. The root of B. 

 grandiflora and tomentosa is bitter and very astringent. Some are said to be drastic 

 purgatives in Mexico (Endl.) ; and if so, this is an additional point of resemblance 

 between them and Cucui-bits. 



GENERA. 

 Begonia, L. Eupetalum, Lindl. Dlploclinium, LindL' 



Numbers. Gen. 2. Sp. 159. (Walpers). 



Melastomacece ? 

 Position. — Cucm'bitacese. — Begoniace-e. — Datiscacese. 



" This genus includes those Begonias which have a double placenta. 



