138 PACIFIC STATES FLORAL CONGRESS. 



Metallica. B. metallica, G. Smith, is one of the older species of 

 this class, having been introduced from Bahia in 1869. by Wilson 

 Sanders. The stems are hairy and profusely branched. The leaves 

 are from three to six inches long, with the upper surface green and 

 shaded with a dark metallic color. The flowers are pinkish white, and 

 the under surface of the petals clothed with bristly hairs. The plant 

 is easily grown, and the bright metallic luster of the leaves makes it 

 attractive both in foliage and in flower. There are three varieties, 

 rariegatti; velutina, and cyprea, but they do not differ much from 

 the original. 



Margaritae. B. Margaritae, Hort., was introduced by Bruant, in 

 1884, and is a cross between B. metallica and B. echinosepala, but the 

 leaves are considerably smaller than the leaves of the other members 

 of this class. Otherwise they are very similar. The flowers are large, 

 rose-colored, with long hairs at the base of the petals. 



ScTimidtiana. B. Schmidtiana., Hegel (B. Sclimidti, Hort.), is a 

 low-growing species introduced by Haage and Schmidt from Eio Grand 

 de Sul, Brazil, in 1880, and was named by Dr. Kegel, of St. Petersburg, 

 in compliment to Mr. Schmidt. The plant never exceeds a foot 

 in height, with rather small, hairy leaves, green above and reddish 

 underneath. The flowers are white, tinted with rose, and very abun- 

 dant. It is regarded by many as a very desirable plant for summer 

 liedding. 



Echinosepala. B. echinosepala, Eegel, was introduced by Haage and 

 Schmidt, from Santa Catarina, in 1872. This species has been used 

 frequently as a parent in the production of the hybrids of this class, 

 but is rarely seen in general cultivation. The leaves are obliquely 

 heart-shaped, green above and red beneath. The flowers are white 

 with hairy petals. 



Hydrocotylifolia. B. hydrocotylifolia, Otto, is a native of Mexico. 

 The whole plant is hairy. The leaves are round, heart-shaped at the 

 base, and the flowers rose-colored, with only two petals. It is seldom 

 seen in cultivation now. The above-mentioned nine varieties appear 

 to be very closely related, and can be distinguished from all others 

 by their hairy leaves and petals. 



Imperialis. There are a few other begonias belonging to this divi- 

 sion that appear to have no immediate relatives in cultivation, such 

 as B. imperialis, Lemoine. The rough leaves are on hairy petioles, 

 and are at first a deep green and later brownish, with irregular 

 bands of light green along the veins. The flower stems are erect, 

 about three inches long, and bear a cluster of insignificant flowers 

 with green bracts. The capsule is green, three angled, with .one long 

 wing. It was introduced from Mexico by Verschaffelt in 1859. Its 



