178 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



so called, have really been the outcome of crossing B. Lynchiana 

 with B. semper florens. 



B. metadata (Bot. Beg. t. 666). — Introduced from Brazil 

 about 1822. Stem erect, branched, 2 feet to 3 feet high, smooth, 

 woody when old. Leaves obliquely cordate, lanceolate, wavy, 

 4 inches to 6 inches long, green with white roundish spots, the 

 margin and under surface crimson. Peduncles axillary, drooping, 

 many-flowered. Flowers pale rose or white ; females much more 

 numerous than males, the latter ^inch across, and formed of 

 two rotund and two very narrow petals ; females of five equal 

 petals ; ovary § inch long, with broad subequal wings. A stove 

 plant, of which there are several forms, viz. ar gyro stigma, 

 Wightii, &c. 



B. manicata {Mart. Fl. Bras. vol. iv. t. 101). — Introduced 

 from Mexico in 1842. A short-stemmed succulent species with 

 long- stalked leaves, the stalks clothed with fleshy, scale-like 

 hairs ; blade ovate, obliquely cordate, smooth shining green, 

 6 inches to 8 inches long. Peduncles a foot or more long, bear- 

 ing loose panicles of pink dipetalous flowers. Ovary 3-angled, 

 wings nearly equal. A useful winter-flowering stove plant. There 

 is a variety of it, aureo-macitlata, with large blotches of bright 

 yellow on the leaves. 



B. metallica (Gard. Chron. 1876, vol. v. p. 397). — Intro- 

 duced from Bahia in 1869 by Wilson Saunders. Stems peren- 

 nial, succulent, hairy, 4 feet to 6 feet high, branched. Leaves 

 very numerous, obliquely cordate, lobed and serrated, 3 inches to 

 6 inches long, hairy, green shaded with a darker metallic colour, 

 Flowers in axillary peduncles, crowded, blush white ; males 1 inch 

 across, with two rounded and two very narrow petals ; females 

 much smaller, with five regular petals ; ovary and back of petals 

 clothed with red bristly hairs. A useful plant for the conser- 

 vatory, easily grown, and decorative both in foliage and flower. 



B. natalensis (Bot. Mag. 4841). — Introduced from Natal to 

 Kew in 1854. Eootstock a large fleshy tuber. Stems fleshy, annual, 



1 foot to 2 feet high. Leaves obliquely cordate, lobed, sinuate, 



2 inches to 3 inches long, green, sometimes mottled with grey, 

 veins reddish. Flowers numerous on slender axillary peduncles, 

 bluish white, 1 inch across ; males with two ovate petals, females 

 with five equal petals ; ovary 3-angled ; two long, one short wing. 

 An easily grown free-flowering greenhouse plant. 



