BEGONIA. 65 



all from the roots, and are somewhat reniform, slightly 

 lobed, five or six inches across, and deep green on the 

 upper surface, the leaf stalks red and clothed with hairs. 

 The flower stems are three-branched, bearing quantities of 

 large pure white flowers, the bright yellow stamens and 

 stigma affording a pleasant contrast ; it blooms during 

 early spring. Native of Natal. 



B. glanduUfera. — A handsome species, which does not 

 form a stem. The leaves are obliquely ovate- cordate, about 

 five inches long, pointed, finely serrated at the edges, 

 slightly hairy, and of a bright dark green ; the flower scapes 

 are about a foot high, hairy, and bearing a branched panicle 

 of pure white flowers, which contrast prettily with the orange 

 yellow stamens ; it blooms during the whole winter. Native 

 of Trinidad. 



B. Ouatenialensis. — A free-growing and highly decorative 

 species, with dark green oblique leaves, and good-sized 

 trusses of deep flesh-coloured flowers, which are produced 

 during winter. 



B. heracleifolia nigricans. — A very handsome plant, both 

 in foliage and flower. It has a creeping stem, and palmate 

 leaves ; the lobes, which are broadly lanceolate-acuminate, 

 are hairy at the edges, the upper surface of a dark green, 

 broadly margined with black. The flowers are borne on 

 erect panicles, in great profusion, during winter, and are 

 white, beautifully stained with rose. Native of Mexico. 



B. hyhrida floribimda. — A very free-flowering kind, yield- 

 ing a profusion of its bright rose-coloured flowers during 

 the whole winter. It is a hybrid between B. fuchsioides and 

 B. multiflora, and is of Continental origin. 



B. hydrocotylifoU-a. — A distinct dwarf species, with the 

 stems creeping, and the leaves nearly round, prettily 

 veined with black ; the flowers are pink, and freely pro- 



