NAT. ORDER. 
BegoniacecB. . 
BEGONIA SANGUINEA. BLOOD-RED BEGONIA. 
Class XXI. MoNCEciA. Order VII. Polyandria. 
Gen. Char, Calyx., none. Corolla^ polypetalous. Petals, from four 
to six, unequal. Styles, three. 
Spe. Char. Stems, several in number. Leaves, large, sub-peltate. 
Petioles, very unequal. Stamens, numerous . Ger mens, winged. 
The stems of this plant are several in number, all rising from 
the crown of tlie root, subligneous, red, with scattered, oblong, paler 
spots ; the leaves are from four to six inches long, two and a half to 
three and a half inches broad, sub-peltate, unequally cordate, acumi- 
nate, the apex soon withering, leathery-succulent, perfectly glabrous 
and shining on both sides, green above, blood-red below, the edge 
crenulate and revolute all round ; nerves about ten, radiating, the 
larger branched, the smaller subsimple ; petioles of very unequal 
length, round, resembling the stem ; stipules intra-foliaceous, large, 
ovate, acute, keeled ; peduncle about ten inches long, terminal, becom- 
ing axillary, tapered, similar to the stem, but without spots, repeatedly 
dichotom.ous at the apex, the primary branches are about one inch 
long, the others gradually shorter ; bracteas lanceolate-elliptical at 
each division ; jloiKers w'hite, rather small ; male flowers in the clefts 
of the cyme, or on the inner side, where the ultimate branches are 
reduced to two flowers (the outer one being a female), or, occasion- 
ally, solitary on the ultimate branches ; petals four, the two outer 
subrotund, slightly crenate, the two inner linear, elliptical, very nar- 
row, entire ; stamens numerous ; filamerits free, excepting at the 
Vol. iv.— 21. 
