THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



96 



BEGONIA SCEPTRUM. 



BEGONIA SCEPTRUM. 



Among the new plants of recent in- 

 troduction, we notice the Begonia Scep- 

 trum, a very handsome and distinct 

 species, a native of Brazil. Its leaves 

 are obliquely ovate in outline, deeply 

 lobed on one side, the lobes oblong ob- 

 tuse, the veins sunk, and the raised 

 spaces between marked with large sil- 

 very blotches, and numerous smaller 

 dots of silvery gray. The leaf stalks 

 are red, this color passing up the ril)s 

 of the under surface. 



This species is a desirable addition to 

 our list of ornamental plants foi- the 

 conservatory. The popularity the 

 tuberous-rooted species has justly at- 



tained, has had a tendency to detract 

 from the ornamental-leaved sorts, al- 

 though they occupy entirely different 

 grounds. We are quite apt to neglect 

 the old in our chase for the new ; this 

 has been particularly so in regard to 

 the Begonia. We now rarely see a 

 good collection of the old Rex section, 

 notwithstanding the plant possesses far 

 more of interest than many of those 

 now extensively cultivated for the sake 

 of their flowers. There is, or at least 

 should be, room for all, and we trust 

 the Begonia Sce})trum will have a ten- 

 dency to encourage the Dioie general 

 cultivation of all the species of this 

 truly beautiful class of plants. — Ladies' 

 Floral Cabinet, 



