144 PACIFIC STATES FLORAL CONGRESS. 



lobes are of a rich green and toothed. The flowers are on erect 

 flower stems three to four feet long. There are several varieties of 

 this species which do not differ much from the original. Var. nigricans 

 has the margins of the leaves bordered with dark green; var. longipila 

 has long fleshy hairs on the leafstocks and flower stems; var. punctata 

 has green leaves which become reddish near the margins; var. Sunder- 

 bruchi, which is of American origin, has bronze-green leaves with sil- 

 ver bands along the nerves. 



Lubbersi. There is a species called B. Lubbersi, E. Morr., which 

 was introduced from Brazil in 1833 into the Brussels Botanical Gar- 

 dens, which is almost identical with the above, and should be classed 

 as a variety. 



Albo picta. B. albo picta, Bull., was introduced from Brazil by 

 Win. Bull. It is a compact grower, branching freely, with lanceo- 

 late leaves covered with small, white, silvery spots. The flowers are 

 of a greenish white and insignificant. It is quite common in cultiva- 

 tion, and is regarded as an excellent foliage plant. This species was 

 crossed with B. olbia bv Lemoine in 1889, producing a handsome 

 hybrid called argenteo guttata, with leaves similar to albo picta, but 

 larger and slightly lobed. The flowers hang in clusters and are white, 

 tinged with pink, and a rose-colored capsule. 



Albo Coccinea. B. albo coccinea, Hook., was introduced from Brazil 

 to Kew in 1845, but is seldom seen in this country. It has round, 

 leathery leaves, and large, coral-red flowers, one inch across. The 

 petals are white above and coral red beneath. It is a very beautiful 

 species, flowering in winter, and should be introduced extensively. 



Manicata. B. manicata, Brongn., is one of the most widely culti- 

 vated species, and is used extensively in store windows, houses, and 

 the conservatory. It is very hardy, withstanding rough treatment het- 

 ter than any other begonia. The plant has a short, succulent stem 

 and thick, fleshy, smooth, obliquely heart-shaped flowers. It was 

 introduced from the Vera Cruz Mountains in 1842. Var. aureo 

 maculata has large blotches of yellowish white in the leaves. B. 

 Feasti and Sauli, which are close relatives of this species, have already 

 1)een described, when speaking of American introductions. B. mani- 

 cata has been crossed with B. car oliniae folia,, producing B. Verschaf- 

 feltiana. It has a thick rhizome, with large, ovate, lobed leaves, and 

 rose-colored flowers on long pendant flower stems. The plant is tall, 

 coarse, and unsightly as an old specimen, but when well grown from 

 year to year from cuttings, makes a splendid plant. 



Caroliniaefolia.B. caroliniaefolia, Eegel, has an erect, thick, 

 fleshy stem, with palmate leaves divided into six or eight. The flowers 

 are pink, on long peduncles. It is a native of Mexico. 



