26 ILLUSTUATIONS. 



following, too, are valuable for this purpose :— O, florihunda, rwl ; pnr- 

 purata, flesh and white ; riibra-flava, red and yellow ; speciosa, bright 

 purple ; with others. 



There are a number of sorts which bloom freely in tlie greenhouse 

 or sitting-room during winter, and are very ornamental. Tlie O. versi- 

 color, with its delicate liandsome flowers of crimson and white, in con- 

 trast with a very neat and interesting foliage ; 0. variabilis, white and 

 red; O. variabilis grandiflora, white ; also the variety Simsii, white. 

 These are peculiarly pretty. O. rubella, a pretty bright pink, admired 

 by all ; O. purpurata, pale purple, and O. purpurea, a deep purple ; 

 O. pnlchella, very neat, white; O. rosea, bright rose; O. tricolor, 

 oranf2:e, white, and red, is particularly interesting and elegant ; O. 

 Emersonii, of a rich saffron-yellow, giving a pretty contrast witli the 

 other colours ; O. multiflora, lilac, which blooms nearly all the year ; 

 O. compressa, rich yellow ; O. Piottee, orange, very neat ; O. gracilis, 

 purple, small, but neat; O. fulgida, rosy-crimson, very showy; and 

 O. flava, a very pretty yellow. All the above are most desirable 

 plants for autumn, winter, and spring ; their humble growth and pro- 

 fusion of flowers render them peculiarly interesting in contrast with all 

 other winter flowering plants. They are easy of culture, increase 

 freely, and amply repay for any attention bestowed. They do best 

 when placed near the glass or window, so as to iiave full light and air 

 on all proper occasions ; also the water to have the chill taken ofl" 

 during the winter season. When done blooming water must be wit ii- 

 lield, to give a period of rest to the tubers. 



BEGONIA CINNABARINA— Cinnabar-flowered, 

 Elephant's Ear. 



This very handsome species is a native of Bolivia, in Sontli America, 

 and Mr. Bridges sent seeds of it to Messrs. Henderson, of Pineapple- 

 place Nursery. It proves to be a species that flourishrs in the 

 GREENHOUSE, which is a valuable acquisition, and blooms from June 

 to the end of the season. The contrast between the green stem and 

 darker green leaves, with the rich bright red of the long and short 

 peduncles and stipules, together with the large bright orange-red 

 flowers, is peculiarly striking and beautiful. 



The entire genus of Begonias contains about 140 described species. 

 (.4 very extended descriptive list is inserted in this Magazine in 

 October and November 1846, wliich is well worth possessing.) All 

 of them are very Interesting, and some of them especially beautiful. 

 They are chiefly natives of Asia and South America (none, it is said, 

 have been found in Africa), and require to be grown in the stove. 

 They are of a succulent nature, some having climbing half-shrubby 

 stems, others creeping stems ; a few are annuals, and a few have 

 tuberous roots, to Avhich section B. cinnabarina belongs, and as they 

 lie dormant for a season after blooming is over, they then require to 

 have but little water, only just enough lo keep the soil from becoming 

 absolutely dry. They flourisii in equal parts of light loam and sandy- 

 peat, with a very liberal drainage, and after potting tiiey should be 



