THE CULTIVATED SPECIES OF BEGONIA. 



177 



with large subequal wings. A pretty little plant for the warm 

 greenhouse. 



B. laciniata (Bot. Mag. t. 5021). — Introduced from India to 

 Kew in 1857. Stem perennial, 1 to 2 feet high, tomentose. 

 Leaves roundly ovate, lobed, pubescent, 6 inches across, black- 

 purple with a broad zone of green, reddish on the under side. 

 Flowers as in B. Bex, both in form and colour; ovary pubescent, 

 large, 3-angled. An ornamental-leaved plant of the Bex type. 

 It is common in India, and is found also in South China. 

 Var. Bowringiana (Bot. Mag. t. 5182) has green leaves and 

 rosy flowers. 



B. Lubbersii (Gard. Chron. 1888, vol. hi. p. 301, fig.).— 

 Introduced from Brazil in 1883 into the Brussels Botanic 

 Gardens. Stem erect, a foot high. Petioles 2 inches long; leaf- 

 blades peltate, obliquely lanceolate, bright green with blotches of 

 white, crimson on the under side. Flowers on short axillary 

 peduncles, 1 J inch across, white ; males of two broad and two 

 rudimentary petals, females much smaller. This is a distinct 

 and pretty leaved plant, but it has failed to win much favour 

 owing to its bad behaviour under cultivation. 



B. Lynchiana (Bot. Mag. t. 6758). — Introduced from 

 Colombia (not Mexico as stated) about 1877 by M. Boezl, who 

 sent it to M. Benary, of Erfurt. It was distributed under the 

 name of B. Boezlii, but as there was already a Begonia of that 

 name, Sir Joseph Hooker renamed it in compliment to Mr.. 

 Lynch, the Curator at Cambridge, who had been the means of its 

 becoming known in England. Bootstock woody. Stems succu- 

 lent, 3 feet high, smooth, green. Leaves on short petioles, ovate 

 or reniform, unequally cordate, toothed at the margins, 6 inches 

 to 8 inches across, bright green with a spot of red at the base of 

 the sinus, tinged with red on under side. Peduncles axillary, stout, 

 6 inches to 10 inches long, bearing large panicles (6 inches to 

 8 inches in diameter) of bright scarlet large flowers ; males 

 with two ovate petals f inch across, females with two to four 

 petals ; ovary 3-4 angled ; wings broad, rounded. A magni- 

 ficent Begonia, specially valuable owing to its flowering in 

 winter. Mr. Lynch says the stems must not be stopped, or weak 

 shoots will result. The plants flower from October to May. 

 I believe the large perpetual-flowering forms of B. semperjiorens,, 



