THE BEGONIA. 139 



two varieties, maculatd and smaragdina, resemble the original very 

 closely. The former has brown leaves with green blotches, and the 

 latter wholly green leaves. These varieties are very handsome and 

 well worth growing for their ornamental value, making splendid table 

 plants. 



Peltata. B. peltata,. Hassk, is a succulent species which has its 

 stems, leaves, and petioles covered with a soft white tomentum which 

 easily rubs off when touched. It is the only begonia in cultivation 

 with thick, felted, peltate, silvery leaves, and is only worth growing 

 in the greenhouse because of its peculiarities. Introduced from Brazil 

 in 1815. 



Platanifolia.B. platanifolia, Graham, grows to a height of five 

 feet, and has very large leaves eight to ten inches in diameter. They 

 are hispid on both sides, dark green, lobed, with toothed, hairy mar- 

 gins. The flowers are in large dichotomous cymes, white, tinted 

 with rose. 



Ounneraefolia; Washingtonlana. B. gunneraefolia, Lind. (B. Wash- 

 ingtoniana, Hort), once offered by Saul, is very similar to this, but 

 its leaves are smooth and glossy, not so deeply lobed, and the flowers 

 are insignificant, These two species are not of any particular com- 

 mercial value. 



Ricinifolia. B. ricinifolia, Hort., is a cross between B. heracleifolm 

 and B. peponifolia. It has a short, thick rootstock, with very large, 

 rough, bronzy-green, lobed leaves, somewhat resembling those of the 

 castor-oil plant, The flowers are on long, erect flower stems, and of 

 a pink color. 



Digitata; Palmata. B. digitata, Eaddi (B. palmata, Hort.), has 

 rather large leaves, deeply divided into from ten to twelve finger- 

 like lobes, which are pubescent, green above and reddish beneath. 

 Native of Brazil. 



Subpeltata nigricans. B. subpeltata nigricans, Hort., is one of the 

 most commonly cultivated begonias; but the writer has been unable 

 to trace its origin. The plant is about two and one-half feet high, 

 with leaves ovate-acuminate, blood-red below and silvery and slightly 

 hairy above; four to eight inches long and two to four inches across. 

 The flowers are abundant, rose pink, with a pink, equal-winged capsule. 

 Pres. de Boureilles is a much improved variety of the above, with rich, 

 dark, claret-colored leaves, more profusely studded with red hairs, 

 and flowers of a deeper pink. These varieties are compact growers 

 and very useful for decorative purposes. 



Ulmifolia. B. ulmifolia, Humb., Bonpl. and Kunth. ( ?), is a rough- 

 leaved species only occasionally seen in cultivation, with clusters of 

 white flowers, and ovate leaves about four inches long. Native of 

 Venezuela. 



