262 BegoniaceCB. [Begonia. 



capsule i-lf in. or more, cylindrical, rounded at base, truncate 

 at apex, glabrous, pale yellowish-brown ; seed with wing as 

 long as fruit, very flat, glabrous, yellow, wing rounded at the 

 ends. 



Moist low country up to 2000 ft.; rather rare. Kaduganawa ; Kurune- 

 gala; Ambagamuwa. Moon's locality is Kalutara. Fl. June; greenish- 

 yellow. 



Also in India and Malaya. 



Has much the aspect of a Menispermacea, as its S. name indicates. 



LIX.— BEGONIACE^. 



Perennial succulent herbs, 1. alt., with stip., fl. unisexual, 

 monoecious; male fl.: — perianth-segm. 2 or 4, in pairs, outer 

 pair valvate, inner pair (when present) smaller ; stam. indef. 

 (30-50), usually somewhat monadelphous ; fem. fl. : — peri- 

 anth-segm. 2-5 ; ov. quite inferior, 3-celled with very 

 numerous ovules crowded on axile placentas, styles 3, distinct 

 or slightly connate ; fruit a triangular papery capsule, winged 

 at the angles, opening by an elliptical slit on each face ; seeds 

 minute, very numerous, with scanty endosperm. 



This curious Family is very poorly represented in Ceylon. Of our 

 species, 2 are confined to the moist low country and 2 to the montane 

 zone, whilst one occurs in both. 



BEGONIA, L. 



For characters, see Order. — Sp. 398 ; 64 in Fl. B. Ind. 



Stemless. 



Placentas 2-lobed. ' 1. B. CORDIFOLIA. 



Placentas undivided. 



L. rounded or subacute at apex . . . 2. B. tenera. 

 L. acuminate. 



Scapes and ov. very hairy . . . . 3. B. Thwaitesii. 



Scapes and ov. nearly glabrous . . . 4. B. subpeltata. 



Stem stout, erect 5. B. malabarica. 



1. B. cordifolia, Tkw. Enum. 129 (1859). G-al-amfcala, S. 



C. R 3584. .. 



Fl. B. Ind. ii. 641. Wight, Ic. t. 1816 {Diploclinium cordifolium). 



A perennial herb with a short horizontal rootstock, sending 

 up leaves and flower-stalks ; 1. erect or spreading, petiole 

 3-7 in., stout, succulent, with spreading hair, pink, blade 



