398 GARDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



duced from China by Mr. Fortune, who describes it as bearing 

 dark brown flowers, not unlike those of Magnolia fuscata, and 

 very sweet-scented." As figured in the 'Botanical Eegister,' 

 the flowers are without petals, have three sepals, and are borne 

 in loose racemes. Thriving plants have for some years past 

 been growing in the Calcutta Botanical Gardens. It is said that 

 it dreads humidity. 



BEGONIACE.E. 



Begonia. 

 ELEPHANT'S-EAR. 



A very numerous genus ; principally natives of a colder 

 climate, and not more than the few mentioned below able to 

 exist in the plains, unless confined to the Betel-house, where 

 about a dozen named fancy kinds are now cultivated with 

 success. Many beautiful species are to be met with in the hills, 

 but have been found not to bear introducing into the low country. 

 They have all, more or less, the peculiar form of leaf denoted by 

 the English name given them. 



Dr. Hooker says : " Most of the Himalayan Begonias, of which 

 there are about a dozen species, are confined to the eastern part 

 of the mountain range, and are not abundant anywhere to the 

 westward of Sikkim, where eight or ten species are found. In 

 the Khassya Mountains they are exceedingly abundant. The 

 stems of many are eaten cooked, being pleasantly acid, and 

 such are made into sauce for pork and other greasy meats by 

 the native inhabitants of Sikkim." * 



A year or two ago hybrids were raised by Mr. M'Meekin, of 

 the Agri-Horticultural Society's Garden, between B. argy- 

 rostigma and B. Malabathrica, as well as between B. argyro- 

 stigma and B. nitida. The leaves of these, when young plants, 

 were very beautiful, and quite distinct from those of either 

 parent.; but on growing to maturity they lost nearly all their 

 characteristic beauty. 



Mr. K. Scott, of the Calcutta Botanical Gardens, likewise sub- 

 sequently produced hybrids between B. argyrostigma and B. 

 platanifolia. Some of these as seedlings were astonishingly 



* ' Illustrations of Himalayan Plants,' pi. xiii. 



