of the contained ovoid bodies would further suggest the reference of these to modified flowers, and the scales 
at their summit to their being imperfect inferior ovaria, with undeveloped perianth and stigmata; but I can 
only offer these observations as rude analogies, nor, until their functions are discovered, is it probable that 
much light will be thrown on their relationship to other parts of the plant. 1 traced their growth from a 
very early stage, when the scales closed over the ovoid bodies, but at no period did I discover any point 
of structure that explained their origin or nature. Amongst the dried specimens I have found some 
with the female flowers monstrous; these have no inferior ovary, ib) two stigmata, which are dilated and. 
excavated at the base, and bear numerous cellular papille, resembling imperfect and very deformed ovules 
scattered over the surface of the concavity, and attached to its margins. The petals are also sometimes de- 
formed, and bear similar papille on their inner faces. These malformations appear to exhibit a tendency in 
the perianth to become inferior, or rather in the flowers to develop superior ovaria; but the membranous 
nature of the parts prevents their bemg satisfactorily analysed in specimens that have been dried. 
The Begonia have probably a great tendency to become viviparous, as is the case with many other 
plants of very succulent tissues. ‘Thus Von Martius describes (in the Transactions of the Royal Bavarian 
Society of Munich; see also Hook. Journ. Bot. iv. 206) a species under the name of B. phyllomaniaca, 
which develops thousands of leaflets on its stem and branches, and these, on being planted, become new 
sndividuals. This fact, however, seems analogous to the well-known property of Bryophyllum and other 
plants, and is of a totally different nature from that presented by B. gemmipara. 
The Begonia gemmipara cannot be called an ornamental plant; I lane nevertheless ventured to intro- 
duce it into this work, as being one of the most curious and anomalous that I met with in Mr. Cathcart’s 
collection of drawings; and in point of interest and novelty it is well deserving the attention of every 
lover of plants. 
PRA RADA AAA 
Puats XIV. Fig. 1. Male flower. 2. Stamens. 3. Female flower. 4. Ovary and styles. 5. Transverse section of ovary. 
6. Gemmule from the axillary bodies. 7. Vertical section of ditto. 8. Very immature ditto. 9. Transverse sec- 
tion of ditto, from Mr. Cathcart’s collection :—all magnified. 
