148 PACIFIC STATES FLORAL CONGRESS. 



of Peru, with rose-colored flowers. Light-colored seedlings of this 

 species gave rise to the variety Queen of Whites, put into commerce 

 in 1878, and destined to he a most important factor in subsequent 

 garden forms of the same color. 



Veitchii. One of the progenitors of the tuberous race, a native 

 of Peru, and introduced in 1867, is B. Veitchii, Hook. It has a very 

 short, thick, fleshy stem, with the principal veins on the leaves radiat- 

 ing from a bright carmine spot near the center, and large cinnabar- 

 red flowers, two and one-fourth inches in diameter. 



Clarkii. B. Clarkii, Hook., is similar in appearance to the last 

 named, and is the seed parent of Vesuvius and Emperor, two impor- 

 tant and useful varieties for bedding purposes. 



Pearcei. A begonia which has been the chief factor in the produc- 

 tion of the hundreds of }^ellow, buff, and orange-colored garden forms 

 is B. Pearcei, Hook. It is a native of Bolivia, and was introduced 

 in 1865. The flowers are large, bright yellow, and hang in loose 

 axillary panicles. 



Natalensis. B. Natalensis. Mr. Hatfield, of Wellesley, Mass.. 

 describes it as a pretty little species with bluish-white flowers, which 

 has established itself under the benches in greenhouses, like Evansiana. 



The following tuberous species are in cultivation, but are not 

 known to be in the American trade. For descriptions and .introduc- 

 tions, the writer would refer you to Bailey's Cyclopedia of American 

 Horticulture: Cinndbarina, crinita, cydophylla, geranifolia, octopetala, 

 polypetala, rubricaulis, Sutherlandii, tenera, and the hybrid, Sedeni. 



If the writer were to attempt to mention the thousands of singles, 

 doubles, crimsons, and scarlets, rose colored, whites, oranges, and yel- 

 lows which have been produced almost entirely from six species, he 

 would be lost in oblivion, as unfortunately most of the records have 

 been. Too much stress can not be laid upon the importance and 

 necessity of florists, horticulturists, and gardeners making complete 

 records of every cross, hybrid, and variety produced by them. Who 

 can foretell the future and say, "It is not worth while"? 



REX SECTION. 



The fourth and last section includes the Eex or ornamental-leaved 

 begonias. These, though small in number of species, are large in the 

 number of hybrids and varieties. The magnificent species, B. Rex, 

 is the principal parent in the production of the numerous ornamental- 

 leaved begonias. It has been crossed with a few species in the first 

 place, and then hybrid seedlings have been raised apain and again 

 from the progeny. The original plant is to be seen in Flore de 

 Serres, in the volume for 1857. This is of particular interest, as it 



