BEGONIAS 



much used by the hybridist, and in the varieties of to-day may still be seen 

 traces of the stout circular leaves and short thick stem. 



A closely allied species, named Begonia Clarkei, in honour of Colonel Trevor 

 Clarke who first flowered it, had been introduced from Peru a few years prior to 

 the introduction of B. Veitchii, but the plants did not flower for several years, 

 and when they did, were found to differ from B. Veitchii in habit as well as in 

 colour, size, and shape of flower, 



A higher temperature is required by Begonia Clarkei than by the majority 

 of the genus, and the presumption is that it is a native of a lower altitude than 

 B. Veitchii. A figure of the latter is given in the Veitchian Plant Catalogue 

 for 1868, in which year it was distributed. 



Another of Pearce's Andean introductions, * Begonia rosseflora, a species in 

 many respects resembling B. Veitchii, from which, however, it differs in several 

 important points. 



The petioles of the leaves coloured red, as is the villous flower-scape ; the 

 bracts and stipules of a different form to those of Begonia Veitchii bright 

 rose-coloured ; the colour of the flowers, the most marked difference, is that of 

 the Wild Rose, not the cinnabar-red of B. Veitchii. 



Seden early made use of this species in the production of hybrids, and it may 

 be looked upon as one of the most active progenitors of the garden tuberous 

 Begonias of to-day. 



Another interesting fact regarding this species is that from seedlings obtained 

 by crossing light-coloured varieties, the first white-flowered tuberous Begonia 

 was obtained, and sent out under the varietal name Queen of the Whites. 



Davis found that the colours of the flowers in this species varied greatly, and a 

 white-flowered form sent home by him some years later, proved identical with the 

 seedling known as Queen of the Whites. 



The last of the Andean species to be introduced to cultivation was t Begonia 

 Davisii, named after the discoverer, who detected it near Chupe, in Peru, when 

 collecting in that region. 



Like its congeners, Begonia Veitchii and B. rosseflora, it is a stemless species 

 with broadly ovate-cordate leaves, glossy green above and purplish beneath, 

 with a slightly lobed serrated margin ; the flowers rich orange-scarlet in colour, 

 are in threes on erect red-coloured scapes 6 to 8 in. high. 



The dwarf habit and erect flowers characteristic of this species were taken 

 advantage of by Seden, who rapidly evolved several garden forms possessing 

 most desirable qualities and of a very high order. 



TUBEROUS-ROOTED HYBRIDS. 



The first hybrid Begonia of the tuberous-rooted section was raised at Chelsea 

 by John Seden as the result of a cross between B. boliviensis and an unnamed 

 Andean species. 



The Royal Horticultural Society awarded it their Silver Floral Medal as the 

 " best new plant shown for the first time in bloom " at their New Plant Show 

 held on June 2nd, 1869. 



* Begonia rosaeflora, Bot. Mag. t. 5680 ; Fl. and Pom. 1869, col. pi. p. 1. 

 t Begonia Davisii, Hort. Veitch ; Bot. Mag. t. 6252 ; Fl. Mag. t. 6252 ; Veitchs' 

 Catlg. of PI. 1879, fig.; The Garden, 1878, vol. xiii. p. 208, pi. 118, 



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