180 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



B. phyllomaniaca (Bot. Mag. t. 5254). — Introduced from 

 Brazil in 1851. Stem perennial, succulent, green, hairy, rarely 

 branched. Leaves obliquely cordate, attenuate, 4 inches to 8 inches 

 long, slightly laciniated and fringed. Flowers in axillary pedun- 

 cles, drooping, an inch across, females much larger than males, 

 pale pink. This species is peculiar in that it produces from the 

 stem and petioles innumerable leaflets or small growths, which on 

 being detached and placed on moist ground produce roots and 

 perfect plants. It is one of the most interesting of plants, though 

 not of much decorative value. 



B. polyp etala (The Garden, 1878, t. 531). — Introduced from 

 Northern Peru by Messrs. Frcebel in 1878. Rootstock tuberous,. 

 Stems short, fleshy, annual. Leaves ovate, cordate, toothed, 

 hairy, with raised veins, 10 inches by 8 inches ; stalk as long as 

 the blade. Flower-scape erect, a foot or more long ; flowers with 

 nine or ten ovate-oblong petals an inch long, red ; ovary hairy, 

 with one long wing. This is a beautiful plant, but difficult to 

 cultivate. It blooms in winter, starting into growth in August. 

 It requires warm greenhouse treatment. The flowers have been 

 compared to those of Anenome fulgens. 



B. Bex (Bot. Mag. t. 1101).— Introduced by Mr. J. Linden 

 from Assam in 1858. Eootstock a short fleshy rhizome, from 

 which spring the long-stalked, large, ovate, wavy leaves, which 

 are bullate, hairy, and coloured rich metallic green with a zone 

 of silvery grey. Peduncles erect, as long as the leaf- stalks, 

 bearing dichotomous cymes of large rose-tinted flowers ; males 

 2 inches across, with four unequal petals ; females smaller, with 

 five nearly equal petals ; ovary 3-angled, with two short and one 

 long wing. When this was introduced Sir J. Hooker described 

 it as " certainly the most lovely of the many lovely species of 

 Begonia with which we are acquainted." I was informed by 

 Mr. Linden's manager that of all the plants introduced by Mr. 

 Linden this Begonia proved the most profitable. There are 

 numerous varieties of it, and it has been hybridised with 

 B. discolor and B. diadema. Although a stove plant, it may 

 be grown in the ordinary greenhouse or conservatory, where it is 

 useful for planting in shaded corners. Back walls in plant- 

 houses, if netted with wire and lined with peat and moss, may be 

 completely covered with the varieties of B. Bex. 



B. rosceflora (Bot. Mag. t. 5680). — Introduced from Peru by 



