BEGONIA FUCIISIOIDES. 
Class. 
MONCECIA. 
(Fuchsia-like Begonia.) 
Natural Order. 
BEGONIACEA3. 
Order. 
POLYANDRIA. 
G 
Co 
Fei 
fou 
bifi 
eric Character. — Male flowers. — Calyx wanting. 
a polypetalous ; petals commonly four, unequal. 
■e flowers.— Calyx wanting. Corolla with from 
o nine petals, generally unequal. Styles three, 
Capsule triquetrous, winged, three-celled, many- 
see l. 
g 
twi 
slit 
alt 
dai 
aci 
oft 
FI 
die 
cine Character. — Plant a shrub. “ Stem erect, 
,o three feet high, terete, succulent, glabrous, 
ly tinged with red. Leaves copious, distichous, 
ate, rather small, about an inch-and-a-half long, 
full green, obliquely oblong-ovate, slightly falcate, 
, serrated, glabrous, the margins obscurely ciliated, 
tinged with red. Stipules oblong, obtuse, coloured. 
rs on dichotomously branched, pendent panicles, 
ous, rarely monoecious ; all of a rich, deep, scarlet 
colour. Pedicels bracteated ; bracteas lanceolate, acu- 
minate, opposite. Male flowers. — Sepals four, almost 
closed over the stamens ; two ovate, large and boat- 
shaped, thick and fleshy, opposite and external ; the 
other two smaller, oblong, or approaching to obovate, 
slightly concave, of a thinner, almost membranous, 
texture. Column of stamens forming an ovate mass. 
Female flowers. — Sepals five, rarely spreading, oval, 
nearly equal, concave. Stigmas six, erecto-patent, 
subulate, waved. Ovary of the young fruit white, 
broadly obovate, triangular, the angles winged ; two 
wings very short, and one long, divergent ; all red, and 
decurrent, so as to form a triangular pedicel.”— 
Bot. Mag . 
We have frequently of late spoken highly of the ornamental and useful character 
of lany species of this genus. The usefulness consists in their capability of con- 
tii mg to bloom for a very long time, and in the property of bearing their blossoms 
at time of the year when flowers are extremely scarce. The knowledge of this 
la feature, and the beauty of our present subject, and many others, was nearly 
ui nown until the introduction of some really fine species, a few years ago, brought 
tl plants more immediately under the notice of cultivators and collectors. 
Not any of the kinds either new or old are equal to the present subject, and no 
s] lies is so likely to promote the growing favour with which this family is regarded. 
Ilirst appeared in public at a meeting of the Horticultural Society in Regent 
S let, during the autumn of last year, where it was sent by Messrs. Veitch and 
S , of Exeter, who obligingly furnished us at the same time with the specimen 
fi a which our drawing was made. 
To the Royal Gardens at Kew belongs the merit of introducing this acquisition 
tour collections, probably in the year 1845. Mr. Purdie, late in the employ of the 
l »v Establishment, as collector, discovered it growing in New Grenada, from 
v mce he sent it home. 
From most of its fellows it differs considerably in being more shrubby, and 
b ing smaller leaves. These characteristics render it, if well grown, an interesting 
pat at all times, but especially so when it blossoms, particularly as it flowers 
t ough the most dreary parts of the year. 
VOL. XIV. NO. CLXVI. 
F F 
