BEGONIA 



THE BULB BOOK 



BESCUORXERIA 



too hot and arid. They are easily kept consequently have to be raised by 



at bay by syringing the plants freely 

 when not in blossom, and afterwards 

 keeping the stages sufficiently damped 

 with water each day. 



It is needless to give a list of names, 

 as these are only of fleeting interest, 

 and the very finest forms may be 

 obtained from a packet of good seeds 

 saved from choice strains. The 

 main groups into which tuberous 

 Begonias may be divided are (1) 

 single-flowered and (2) double- 

 flowered. In both sections the petals 

 are broad,of good shape and substance, 

 and in many varieties the edges are 

 beautifully denticulate ; in others 

 they are beautifully frilled and 

 serrated. What are called "Butter- 

 fly" Begonias have the flowers with 

 a lighter shade in the centre, the 

 petals being splashed and marbled 

 with a deeper colour. The " crested " 

 Begonias have excrescences or crested 

 outgrowths raised on the centre of 

 the petals, which present a peculiarly 

 distinct appearance in consequence. 



WINTER-FLOWERING BEGONIAS. 

 There are now many charming 

 varieties of florists' Begonias that 

 flower during the winter months 

 from October till the end of January. 

 These have been raised by crossing 

 some of the best tuberous varieties 

 with Begonia socotrana. This is a 

 fibrous-rooted species from the Island 

 of Socotra, having roundish peltate 

 leaves and bright pink flowers in 

 winter. (Bot. Mag. t. 6555.) In using 

 this fibrous- rooted species with the 

 tuberous-rooted varieties, the object 

 aimed at was to secure a sturdy 

 winter-flowering race. A good deal 

 has been accomplished in this respect 

 by Mr John Heal, and varieties with 

 single, semi-double, and double 

 flowers have been produced. The 

 plants have mostly sterile flowers, and 



means of cuttings, and they are semi- 

 tuberous in character. They must 

 be grown in warm greenhouses to be 

 brought to perfection. Some of the 

 best forms at present are : Ideala, 

 Adonis, John Heal, Mrs Heal, Ensign, 

 Winter Cheer, Julius, Venus, and 

 Winter Perfection. The flowers vary 

 in colour from bright pink to deep 

 purple pink, rose, and cerise . Besides 

 the parents of the modern tuberous 

 Begonia there are several other 

 tuberous-rooted species, but they are 

 chiefly of botanical interest at present. 



BELEMCANDA or BELAMCANDA. 



(The Malabar name of the plant.) 

 Nat. Ord. Irideae. The only species 

 of the genus is 



B. chinensis, formerly known as 

 Ixia and fardanthus chinensis, intro- 

 duced from China and Japan in 

 1759. It has a short stolon-bearing 

 rhizome, and loose tufts of sword-like 

 leaves, 1 to lj ft. long and an inch 

 broad. From three to twelve shortly 

 tubular flowers are borne in a loose 

 cluster, the fleeting segments being 

 red and spotted with purple brown. 

 (Red. Lit. t. 121 ; Bot. May. t. 171 ; 

 Fl. d. Serr. t. 1632.) 



This species being only half hardy, 

 requires to be grown like the Ixias 

 in sheltered spots, or in frames or 

 greenhouses. It likes a rich sandy 

 soil, and may be increased by division 

 of the root-stocks, or by means of its 

 black pea-like seeds. 



BESCHORNERIA (after //. Besch- 

 orner, a German botanist). Nat. Ord. 

 Amaryllideae. A small genus of ever- 

 green Yucca- like plants, all natives 

 of Mexico, having short, thickened 

 rhizomes or tuberous root-stocks, tufts 

 of fleshy, lance-shaped leaves, and 

 clusters of drooping, funnel-shaped 

 flowers deeply cut into narrow seg- 



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