THE liULB BOOK 



by cultivation and selection, but in many instances " cresting " has 

 become a fixed character, as in the Persian Cyclamen. 



There is one unusual peculiarity about the tuberous Begonias 

 worth recording. The flowers, as is well known, are monoecious, 

 that is, the male (or staminate) and the female (or pistillate) 

 flowers are quite distinct from each other although borne on the 

 same plant. The stamens are borne in one flower; the pistils in 



the other. It sometimes happens, 

 however, that both organs (sta- 

 mens and pistils) appear in the 

 same blossom, as shown in the 

 drawing (Fig. 30). It has also 

 been recorded that a staminate 

 or male flower has been observed 

 to possess an ovary. In the 



Fio. 30.— Begonia flower with stamens and 

 pistils (hermaphrodite). 



Fio. 81.— Lillum, showing two divided and 

 one normal style. (J.) 



Fig. 32. — Funkia, showing tliree plants 

 germinating from one seed. 



species known as B. urribraculifcra (see Bot. Mag. t. 7457), bisexual 

 flowers are recorded. 



Coming to the gynceceum or female portion of the flower, aberra- 

 tions from the normal also occur. Fig. 31 shows the style and 



40 



