BEGONIACE.^ 55 



GYMNOSTEMMA. f.b.i. ii 633, 28 i. 



A genus of one or few species. 



Gymnostemma pedata Blume. ; F.B.L ii 633, XXVII I. 

 A slender climber with simple tendrils and pedately 

 compound ieaves. Leaflets ovate-lanceolate. Flowers 

 minute, in diffuse axillary panicles, 3 to 6 inches long, 

 greenish. Male and female corolla both rotate, 5 partite. 

 Stamens 5, united below ; the anthers straight 2-celled 

 (i.e., normal). Fruit J^ inch diam., greenish, I to 3- 

 seeded. 



Nilgiris, 4,000 to 6,000 feet [G.F.M.F.] 

 Gen. Dist. Eastern Himalayas to Ceylon, Malaya and Japan. 



BEGONIACE/E. 



BEGONIA. F.B.I. 65. 



Only genus. 



Succulent herbs or undershrubs with alternate, asym- 

 metrical and toothed or lobed leaves. Flowers unisexual, 

 monoecious, usually pink or white, showy, in peduncled 

 dichotomous cymes. Perianth of two outer coloured 

 sepals with or without two inner smaller petals. Male 

 flowers : stamens numerous, the filaments free or connate. 

 Female flowers : ovary inferior 3-celled and 3-winged. 

 Fruit a 3-winged capsule with numerous small seeds. 



Species about 400 nearly all in the one genus. 



Begonia malabarica Lamk. ; F.B.I, ii 653, I 64. Almost 

 shrubby. Leaves cordate, very unequal-sided. Flowers 

 rose-coloured, no petals in male. Capsule % inch long 

 and broad, the wings unequal. 



Pulneys : at foot of Silver Castle, etc., Nilgiris. 



Gen. Dist. Western Ghats, to 6,000 feet. 



