In the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae, are Russelia juncea, the 

 coral-plant, from Mexico, and R. sarmentosa, a native of tropical 

 America, both excellent basket plants, with bright red flowers. 



The entire north bench is allotted to the begonias in many 



the large-leaved Begonia nelumbiifolia, from the West Indies, and 

 the small-leaved B. foliosa, from Colombia. A queer one is B. 

 incana, from Mexico, with the leaves covered with a woolly pu- 



l half lost 



Oneo 



mdifolia, 



:olIec 



,nly fro: 



. Hai 



ind for 



ntury and 

 red in 1 903 by an expe- 

 dition sent to that island by the Garden. An account of this 

 plant and its rediscovery will be found in the Journal for Sep- 

 tember, 1905. Another pretty plant is Begonia imperialis, a 

 Mexican species, with its velvety leaves with darker markings, 

 and the variety smaragdina with the leaves a bright velvety green 

 and without markings. Another type of begonia is that shown 

 in Begonia Rex. This species is the principal parent in the pro- 

 duction of many of the begonias with ornamental foliage, of which 

 there is an almost endless number, distinguished by the markings 

 of the leaves and their peculiarities in shape. 



Several species of tne genus Rivitia represent the pokeweed 

 family, Phytolaccaceae, whose bright-colored berries make these 



Th« 



sugg< 



family, to which belongs the common stinging nettle 

 ur roadsides, has an Australian member which far outdoes 

 nettle in stinging qualities. It is known as Urticastrum moroi- 

 the fruit, which somewhat resembles the mulberry in shape, 

 specific name. It attains the height of a shrub or 





. The 



The artillery plant, Adicea microphylla, is a popular fav 

 pollen is forcibly discharged and in the act appears as little puffs 

 of smoke, hence its common name. The ramie plant, Boehmeria 

 nivca, is of interest. It is a native of China. Grasscloth is a 

 name given to the woven fiber obtained from this plant. The 

 stems are four to six feet high, and it is from these that the fiber 



