32 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



of one or two species, positively forbidding-looking flowers. It 

 needs a lively imagination, in conjunction with a generous disposi- 

 tion, to see beauty in the plant called the Black Calla, for instance. 

 With botanists this is Arum arisarum. If the reader has his 

 curiosity excited by seeing a plant in a catalogue under the name 

 of Monarch of the East, and is led to wonder what sort of thing 

 it can be, let him calm himself with the information that it is 

 neither more nor less than one of these Arums, and that its name 

 is cornutum. 



The Arums form a nectar which has a most exhilarating effect on 

 small winged insects. Sad to say, they become inebriated upon it. 

 Still worse, the first thing that they do when they recover from 

 the effects of their debauch is to hasten back for more strong liquor. 



Tuberous-rooted Begonias. Begonias of the tuberous-rooted sec- 

 tion are immense favourites with all lovers of flowers, alike for 

 greenhouse and flower-garden decoration ; and it would be strange 

 if it were otherwise, in view of the striking beauty of their flowers. 

 Who that has seen a group of modern tuberous Begonias exhibited 

 at an important flower-show by one of the leading growers can 

 ever forget the sight? It is something to live in the memory 

 for all time. The singles are beautiful enough, with their great 

 flowers borne in abundance well above the thick, massive leaves, 

 and with their brilliant and varied colours. But the doubles are 

 even more strikingly handsome. The flowers differ greatly in 

 form. Some are like huge Camellias ; others resemble Water Lilies 

 (Nymphaeas). Some are of the form of large Hollyhocks ; others 

 as massive and rich as Paeonies. The range of colours is not com- 

 plete, because we have not yet got blue, but it is very considerable. 

 There are whites as pure as new-fallen snow, yellows of various 

 shades, beautiful blush and Picotee-edged flowers, delicate pinks, 

 soft rose shades, brilliant salmon and orange hues, glowing scarlets, 

 and deep, rich crimsons. 



The tuberous Begonia is quite a modern flower. Although the 



