BEGONIA FAMILY 



165 



1. B. Rex Putz. Herb, apparently stemless or nearly so, from a 

 fleshy rootstock. Leaves large, taper-pointed, very unequally heart- 

 shaped ; the margin sinuous, often bristly-fringed; upper surface 

 wholly silvery, or mottled silvery and dark green; lower surface green 

 or reddish, or of both colors. Flowers few, large (H-lf in. in diam- 

 eter), varying from yellow to pinkish. Cultivated from the Himalayas. 

 Many varieties. 



2. B. manicata Brongn. Herb, with a short and fleshy stem. 

 Leaves very unevenly heart-shaped, taper-pointed ; the margins 

 bristly-fringed and sometimes with very remote teeth ; upper sur- 



A 



FIG. 25. Begonia flowers 



A: a, staminate flower; b, pistillate flower. B, cross section of ovary ; 

 C, twisted stigmas, enlarged 



face dark green, lower surface and petioles partly covered with long 

 fringed scales ; stipules larger and fringed. Flowers flesh-colored, 

 handsome, in a loose panicle borne on a long peduncle. Cultivated 

 from Mexico. 



3. B. coccinea Hook. Tall, 3-10 ft. high, somewhat shrubby, often 

 with many erect, smooth stems from the same root. Leaves broadly 

 and unevenly lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, half heart-shaped or 

 broadly one-eared at the base, acute, nearly or quite entire, smooth, 

 dull green above, sometimes tinged with red below. Peduncles several- 

 many-flowered, reddish, slender, somewhat nodding. Flowers showy, 

 medium-sized, scarlet. Fruit showy, scarlet, very broadly winged. 

 Cultivated from Peru. [Often called B. rubra."] 



