102 BOTANY OF SOCOTRA. 



Order XXXI. BEGONIACE^E. 



A family of only two genera, but many species, widely spread through the 

 tropics of both old and new worlds. 



BEGONIA. 



Begonia, Linn. Gen. n. 1156 ; Benth. et Hook. Gen. PI. i. 841. 

 A vast genus, with the distribution of the order. 



B. socotrana, Hook. fil. in Gard. Chron. xv. n. s. (1881), 8, c. ic. xyl., 

 and Bot. Mag. t. 6555. 



Erecta sparse patentim hirsuta ; foliis peltatis orbicularibus disco intruso infundibuliformi, 

 marginibus recurvis crenatis ; floribus monoicis roseis; fl. masculis nunierosis perianthii 

 segmentis 4 obovatis, staminibus in globum confertis, filamentis brevibus liberis, antberis 

 clavatis recurvis apice rotundatis postice dehiscentibus ; fl. foemineis solitariis perianthii 

 segmentis 6 elliptico-obovatis oblongis obtusis, stylis brevibus ramis patenti-incurvis non 

 tortis, stigmatibus cordatis v. hippocrepibus linea papillosa conjunctis, ovario 2-gono 

 3-loculari loculis alatis sed ala dorsali maxima, placentis integris. 



Bulbifera. Caulis validus et succulentus pauciramosa circa pedalis. Folia 4-7 poll. diam. 

 longe petiolata, petiolo 6-9 poll, longo. Stipulcc subrotundatse deciduse. Flores in cymas 

 (1-2 fceminei cum masculis plurimis in quaque cyma) laxas oppositifolias pauciramosas 

 folia excedentes dispositi, pedicellis ultimis f poll, longis ; bracteis late ovatis v. subrot- 

 undatis. Fl. $ saepe 1£ poll. diam. Fl. ? masculis minores. Fructus £ poll, longus 

 alis membranaceis glabris. Semina foveolata. 



Nom. Vern. Saiberbher (B.C.S.). 



Soeotra. On the Haghier hills under the shade of boulders. B.C.S. n. 419. 

 Schweinf. in lit. 



Distrib. Endemic. 



This curious species is a plant of the higher regions of the granitoid Haghier 

 hills, and is very striking on account of its orbicular leaves. We were fortunate 

 to bring home bulblets in a living condition, and from those planted in April 

 1880, several plants were raised in the Eoyal Gardens, Kew, and they flowered 

 in December of the same year. From these plants Sir Joseph Hooker described 

 the species. Writing of it from a horticultural point of view, Sir Joseph 

 Hooker remarks that it flowers " at a season when such a plant is doubly 

 welcome to the cultivator, as similar Begonias of the Andes, which make so 

 magnificent a show in the conservatory during the summer and autumn months, 

 are then all long past flowering. It is easily propagated by its bulblets, and as 

 the Kew plants continued in flower for two months in a warm conservatory, it 

 will doubtless prove a great favourite." The stock has been acquired by Messrs 

 Veitch and Sons, of Chelsea, and the plant, which has obtained a first-class cer- 

 tificate from the Eoyal Horticultural Society, has been introduced to the public. 



As to its affinities I may again quote Sir Joseph Hooker : — " From the 

 geographical position of the island the affinity of this discovery may be con- 



