■HMH 



OBLIQUE-LEAVED BEGONIA, 



R, 



BEGONIA OBLIQUA. 



& 



llrllTwZ^r^ "^^ AmeriCa ' ^ ^ intr0dUCed int ° ° Ur h0t - h0USes "■ the 

 year 1777, by Dr.Wm.am Brown. This ornamental shrub, which rises from three to five feet 



has numerous leaves oblique, very smooth, laterally heart-shaped, waved, terminating aeute Ite 

 floors afford a beautiful example of the Sex* of Plants, being male and/W, The w */e * J 

 are d 1S enmmated by having only four petals, the upper and under are large, and the side peT 

 small, all inversely cordate. In the centre of the flower are the numerous stamina. The female 

 Jokers are readily distinguished by having five, equal, lanceolate, petals, and a tricuspidate pistillum 

 in the centre, with the germen, or seed-vessel, three-winged, inferior. Nature, as if extremely 

 solicitous for this enchanting work of her hand, has with tender care involved the embryo-flowers 

 within a fine membranaceous//™, or bractea, whose office of protection being served drops 

 leaving the central parts of the flowers (or organs for reproduction) protected by their petals' 

 1 he male flowers are in clusters, and occupy the superior part of the plant, for the more favourable 

 dispersion of the fructifying pollen; while the female flowers are found beneath on dichotomous or 

 forked, peduncles, or stalks. The Begonia comes under the class Moncecia of Linnaeus order 

 Polyandria, and in the reformed system, Class Many Stamina, Order Stamen-Flowers 

 and Pistil-flowers, on the same Plant. 



Where mid Columbia's gaily- tinctur'd skies 



Her mountains blue in distant ranges rise, 



And o'er the deepening shades and crystal springs, 



Triumphant Cupid waves his purple wings, 



The fair Begonia in her verdant bower 



With conscious blushes owns his sovereign power: 



Conceals her secret wish by coy disdain; 



Yet eyes with look oblique some fav'rite swain : 



Around her soft retreat, with joy elate, 



Her numerous Lovers urge the gay debate, 



Besiege the easy Fair with honey 'd tales, 



And tell their passion to the laughing Gales, 



In frolic mirth their hopes and fears impart, 



And win by turns her dissipated heart *. . . . 



So Galatea from her shepherd swain 



Tripp'd archly wanton o'er the flowery plain, 



And laughing soft, with well-dissembled mien, 



Flew to the shades, yet wishing to be teen. 



Dr. Shaw. 





* Linnaeus characterizes the Begonia thus, Folia cordata, altero latere obliterato. Having Leaves heart-shaped, one Lol-e nearlv obliterated. 





