BEGONIA FAMILY 165 
1. B. Rex Putz. Herb, apparently stemless or nearly so, from a 
fleshy rootstock. Leaves large, taper-pointed, very unequally heart- 
shaped; the margin sinuous, often bristly-fringed; upper surface 
wholly silvery, or mottled silvery and dark green; lower surface green 
or reddish, or of both colors. Flowers few, large (14-14 in. in diam- 
eter), varying from yellow to pinkish. Cultivated from the Himalayas. 
Many varieties. 
2. B. manicata Brongn. Herb, with a short and fleshy stem. 
Leaves very unevenly heart-shaped, taper-pointed; the margins 
bristly-fringed and sometimes with very remote teeth; upper sur- 
Fie. 25. Begonia flowers 
A: a, staminate flower; }, pistillate flower. B, cross section of ovary ; 
C, twisted stigmas, enlarged 
face dark green, lower surface and petioles partly covered with long 
fringed scales; stipules larger and fringed. Flowers flesh-colored, 
handsome, in a loose panicle borne on a long peduncle. Cultivated 
from Mexico. 
3. B. coccinea Hook. Tall, 3-10 ft. high, somewhat shrubby, often 
with many erect, smooth stems from the same root. Leaves broadly 
and unevenly lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, half heart-shaped or 
broadly one-eared at the base. acute, nearly or quite entire, smooth, 
dull green above, sometimes tinged with red below. Peduncles several 
many-flowered, reddish, slender, somewhat nodding. Flowers showy, 
medium-sized, scarlet. Fruit showy. scarlet. very broadly winged. 
Cultivated from Peru. [Often called B. rubra.] 
