BEGONIA. 121 



sary for the development of Fern fronds being the most 

 conducive to their luxuriant growth, and we have fre- 

 quently seen them so used, and forming groups of the 

 greatest beauty. There are an immense number of va- 

 rieties of variegated Begonias, some kinds resembling 

 others so nearly, that it becomes a matter of difiSculty 

 to distinguish them, and as it is useless for an amateur to 

 grow two kinds thu? nearly alike, we have endeavoured 

 to describe a few of the most distinct, and those which we 

 consider most worthy of cultivation. 



B. dcedalea. — This is a dwarf compact plant of great 

 beauty. Leaves obliquely cordate, rich deep green, 

 beautifully netted with deep brown, and fringed at the 

 edges with long pink hairs ; when in a young state the 

 leaves are tinged with bright reddish pink. Native of 

 Mexico. 



B. grandis. — Leaves large, and tapering to an oblique 

 point ; ground colour dark olive green, with a zone of 

 silvery white, the under side a uniform deep crimson, the 

 upper side is clothed with long hairs, which are bright 

 red at the base, with white points ; flowers large and very 

 ornamental. Garden variety. 



B. Griffithii. — Leaves large, obliquely cordate, dark 

 green variegated with pale green, and bordered with deep 

 purple, fringed with short hairs ; in addition, the flowers 

 are large, and very useful for bouquet making. Native of 

 Bhotan. 



B. imperialis. — The leaves of this plant are most exqui- 

 site, and in addition to which, its dwarf compact habit 

 renders it a veritable gem. Leaves rugose or wrinkled ; 

 the ground colour is dark olive green, approaching to black, 

 the course of the veins being marked by bands of emerald 

 green. Native of Mexico. 



