B. gogoensis (Gogoan).* l. peltate, ovate-orbicular, oblique, acute when young, with a bronzy metallic hue, ultimately changing to a deep velvety-green, intersected by the paler midribs and veins; the under surface deep red. fl. pale rose, in a lax panicle. Gogo, in Sumatra, 1881. A very handsome, ornamental-foliaged species.
B. gracilis (slender).* T. Stem erect, unbranched, very succulent, l. thinly scattered along stems, half heart-shaped, slightly hairy, lobed, denticulate-ciliate. fl. on short axillary peduncles; umbel of few male and female flowers, two larger petals serrate, colour pink. Capsule winged, green. Mexico, 1829. In axils of leaves between stipules a cluster of bulbils are borne; these may be gathered and sown as seeds. This and its varieties, annulata, diversifolia, Martiana, &c., are beautiful summer flowering greenhouse Begonias, requiring a sandy peat soil and shade. When well grown, they are exceedingly ornamental. (B. M. 2966.)
B. Grahamiana (Graham's). Synonymous with B. albo-coccinea.
B. grandiflora (large-flowered). Synonymous with B. octopetala.
B. grandis (great). A variety of B. Rex.
B. grandis (great). Synonymous with B. Evansiana.
B. grandis (great). Synonymous with B. vitifolia.
B. Griffithii (Griffith's). Stemless; rhizome subterraneous. l. large, obliquely-cordate; margin crenate, hairy; surface granulated, colour a dark green; margin purple, zoned with grey, under side green, centre and margin deep purple. fl. on cymes, large, white internally, outside tinged with blush, slightly pilose. Capsule tubercled, one wing large, projecting. Winter. India, 1856. (B. M. 4984.)
B. Hasskarlii (Hasskarl's). Synonymous with B. peltata.
B. heracleifolia (cow-parsnip leaved). Rootstock thick, fleshy. l. radical, on long pilose stalks, palmate, large, bronzy green; margins toothed, hairy. Flower-stalks long, stout, erect, hairy, many-flowered. fl. rose-coloured. Capsule wings nearly equal. Spring. Mexico, 1831. This and the following varieties are handsome both in foliage and flowers. SYNS. B. jatrophæfolia, B. punctata, B. radiata. See Fig. 229. (B. M. 3444.)
B. h. longipila (long-haired). l. greyish in middle; outer portions dark bronzy, blotched with green. Whole plant covered with long, stiff, fleshy hairs. fl. as in the type.
B. h. nigricans (dark). This differs from the type in having foliage of a blackish tint all round the margins of the lobes, and the petals of the flowers nearly white. (B. M. 4983.)
B. h. punctata (dotted). l. green, reddish near margin. fl. rose-colour, with deep red spots on the outside.
B. herbacea (herbaceous).* Rhizome creeping. l. oblong-acute, lanceolate, toothed, ciliated. Flower-stalks shorter than leaves; male flowers in a cymose head, white, small; female flowers solitary, on very short stalks. Spring. Brazil, 1873. A small species, very succulent, with the appearance of a primrose when not in flower. SYN. B. attenuata. (G. C. 1873, 679.)
B. hernandiæfolia (Hernandia-leaved). Synonymous with B. glandulosa. (Seemann.)
B. hernandiæfolia (Hernandia-leaved). Synonymous with B. nelumbiifolia. (Gardens.)
B. hernandiæfolia (Hernandia-leaved). Synonymous with B. peltata. (B. M. 4676.)
B. hirsuta (hairy). Synonymous with B. humilis.
B. Hookeri (Hooker's). A variety of B. semperflorens.
B. Hookeriana (Hooker's). S. Stem woody, 5ft. to 6ft. high, branching, covered with minute rusty tomentum. l. ovate, unequal sided, blunt, 8in. long, tomentose, like the stem. fl. in axillary cymes, small, white. Spring. Brazil, 1850.
B. humilis (dwarf).* Stem erect, fleshy, hairy. l. semicordate-oblong, acuminate, ciliate-serrate, hairy above, smooth beneath. fl. few, in cymes, small, white. Capsule unequal winged. Summer. Trinidad, 1788. Annual. SYN. B. hirsuta.
B. humilis (dwarf). Synonymous with B. suaveolens. (B. R. 294.)
B. hybrida floribunda (many-flowered).* A very beautiful summer blooming hybrid between B. fuchsioides and B. multiflora. fl. bright rose, medium sized, produced in abundance. Summer. One of the best.
B. hydrocotylifolia (Penny-wort-leaved).* Stem succulent, short, creeping. l. rotundate cordate, almost equal-sided; petiole short. Whole plant hairy. Flower-stalks 1ft. high, pilose. fl. in cymose head, medium-sized, dipetalous, rose-coloured, as also are pedicels and stalk. Capsule wings equal-sized, large. Summer. Mexico, 1841. (B. M. 3968.)
B. h. asarifolia (Asarum-leaved). Leaves and flowers smaller than in the type, the latter white. Mexico.
B. imperialis (imperial).* Stem rhizomatous, short, thick. l. large, broad, ovate-acute, cordate, rugose, hairy, dark olive-green; nerves banded with greyish-green colour. fl. in cymes, white, medium-sized. fr. unequal winged. Mexico, 1861. A handsome foliage species. (I. H. 1860, 262.)
B. i. smaragdina (emerald-like). l. shining emerald green.
B. incana (hoary). Stem erect, fleshy, tomentose. l. leathery, peltate, oblong-acute, sub-angular, whitish beneath. Flower-stalks long. fl. in small downy panicles, white. Winter. Mexico, 1840. SYN. B. auriformis.
B. i. auriformis (ear-like). l. divided at the base, not peltate. fl. glabrous.
B. incarnata (fleshy).* S. Stem erect, fleshy, 2ft. high, smooth; nodes swollen, reddish, spotted. l. on short, smooth petioles, unequally cordate, acuminate, sinuately-serrate, green. fl. large, rose-coloured, handsome; peduncles terminal, nodding. Capsule with unequal wings, the largest acute. Winter. Mexico, 1822. SYNS. B. aucubæfolia, B. insignis, B. Lindleyana. (B. M. 2900.)
B. i. maculosa (spotted). l. spotted with white.
B. i. metallica (metallic-leaved). l. with a bronzy-purple metallic lustre.
B. i. papillosa (papillose). Foliage margined with bright rose; upper surface covered with little papillæ. (B. M. 2846.)
B. i. purpurea (purple-leaved). Foliage deep bronzy-purple.
B. Ingramii (Ingram's).* A garden hybrid, raised at Frogmore in 1849, from B. fuchsioides and B. nitida. It combines the characters of the two parents. A useful winter-flowering plant; may be grown out of doors in summer. (G. M. B., p. 153.)
B. insignis (remarkable). Synonymous with B. incarnata.
B. involucrata (involucrate). S. Stem erect, tall, angular, covered with a reddish tomentum. l. oblique, ovate-acuminate, cordate; margins toothed and ciliate. fl. enclosed in a wrapper, or involucre, when young; peduncles graceful, bearing umbel of white, largish flowers. Capsule wings unequal, the largest falcate. Winter. Central America.
B. jatrophæfolia (Jatropha-leaved). Synonymous with B. heracleifolia.
B. Josephi (Joseph's). Stemless. l. radical, on petioles 6in. to 10in. long, ovate-acuminate, three-lobed, or orbicular, with numerous acute lobes, slightly pubescent; scape 1ft., branched. fl. small, rose-coloured. Capsule wings unequal; upper margins horizontal. Summer. Himalaya.
B. Kunthiana (Kunth's).* S. Stem erect, smooth, slender, purple-brown. l. on short petioles, lance-shaped, acuminate, regularly serrated, smooth, dark green above, bright crimson below. fl. axillary, on short nodding peduncles, white, large, handsome. Summer. Venezuela, 1862. A pretty species. (B. M. 5284.)
B. laciniata (cut-leaved).* Rhizome thick, fleshy. Stem short, thick, jointed, reddish, woolly. l. large, 6in. to 10in. long, 4in. to 6in. broad, unequally cordate; margins irregularly cut, serrated; upper side green, under dull, rufous. fl. on short axillary peduncles, large, white, tinted with rose. Capsule wings, one very long, others short. Spring. Nepaul to Birma, South China, 1858. SYN. B. Bowringiana. (B. M. 5182.)
B. Leopoldi (Leopold's). A hybrid from B. Griffithii and B. splendida, with large variegated foliage. 1858.
B. Lindleyana (Lindley's).* S. Stem erect, fleshy, covered with ferruginous hairs. l. on long petioles, peltate, ovate, acute, 5in. to 6in. long, 3in. to 4in. wide, irregularly lobed, toothed, green above, tomentose below. fl. on branching peduncles, medium sized, white. Winter. Guatemala.
B. Lindleyana (Lindley's). A garden synonym of B. incarnata. (Gardens.)
B. longipes (long-stalked). S. Stem 3ft. or more high, stout, succulent, furrowed, covered with glands. l. large, rotundate-cordate; margin irregular, serrated, both sides green, pubescent when young. fl. numerous, small, white; peduncle 1ft. long, branched. Winter. Colombia, 1829. (B. M. 3001.)
B. longipila (long-haired). A variety of B. heracleifolia.
B. lucida (shining). Synonymous with B. scandens.
B. Lynchiana (Lynch's). S. Stem erect, tall, succulent, smooth. l. fleshy, 10in. long, oblique, ovate-cordate, crenulate, green, smooth. fl. axillary, in drooping cymes, numerous, large, deep reddish-crimson. Winter. Mexico, 1880. One of the finest of the tall-growing winter-flowering species. When well managed, the flower-heads are almost a foot in diameter. SYN. B. Roezlii, of gardens. (B. M. 6758.)
FIG. 230. BEGONIA MACULATA, showing Habit, Section of Capsule, and Flower.
B. maculata (spotted).* S. A woody shrub. Stems branching, smooth. l. oblique, ovate-oblong, leathery, slightly undulate; margins entire, under side bright crimson, above green, with numerous large round blotches of silvery white. fl. in drooping panicles, coral-like, handsome. Capsule with one long, narrow wing. Summer. Brazil, 1821. (B. R. 666.) There are numerous varieties of this species, some with leaves almost green, others with the markings more striking than in the type; in the flowers they differ also, ranging from white to coral-red. The beautiful B. corallina is probably a variety of this. SYN. B. argyrostigma. See Fig. 230.
B. magnifica (magnificent).* S. Stem erect, fleshy, smooth. l. ovate, unequal sided, toothed. fl. in terminal, cymose panicles, rosy-carmine, 1½in. long. New Grenada, 1870. (R. H. 1870, 271.)
B. magnifica (magnificent). Synonymous with B. ferruginea.
B. malabarica (Malabar).* Stem thick, succulent, 2ft. high, branching. l. numerous, cordate, acute, unequal-sided, crenate or serrate, hairy above and sometimes below, or altogether glabrous, spotted white. fl. rose-coloured; peduncles axillary, short, few-flowered. Capsule wings equal, joined above and below. Summer. Malabar and Ceylon, 1828. B. dipetala is made a variety of this, by Sir Joseph Hooker, in "Flora of British India." (L. B. C. 1730.)
FIG. 231. BEGONIA MANICATA.
B. manicata (tunicated).* Stem fleshy, twisted, short. l. oblique, ovate-acute, cordate, dentate-ciliate, smooth on both sides, shining green nerves on under side, with fleshy, scale-like hairs. fl. pink, dipetalous, in branching cymes; upper portion of stalk scaly. Capsule wings nearly equal. Winter. Mexico, 1842. See Fig. 231.
B. Manni (Mann's). S. Stem succulent, 2ft. to 3ft. high, branched, green; branchlets, young parts, petioles, and leaf-nerves clothed with rusty, furfuraceous pubescence. l. petioled, 5in. long, 2in. wide, lanceolate, cordate, acuminate, toothed. fl. numerous, rose-red, in axillary cymes; peduncle 1in. long. Capsule linear, densely tomentose. Winter. Fernando Po, 1862. (B. M. 5434.)
B. marmorea (spotted). A variety of B. xanthina.
B. Martiana (Martin's). A variety of B. gracilis.
B. maxima (large).* Rhizome thick, hairy, creeping. l. large, oblique, orbicular-ovate, cordate, shortly acuminate; margins denticulate ciliate; petiole long, pilose. fl. in branching cymes; sepals orbicular, pilose on the outside, white. Summer. Mexico, 1853.
B. megaphylla (large-leaved).* Stem short, thick, fleshy. l. large, palmate, cordate; lobes numerous, pointed; margins hairy, under side slightly pilose; nerves with scaly hairs. fl. in diffuse cymes, small, white; peduncles pilose. Capsule wings wide. Winter. Mexico.
B. metallica (metallic). A variety of B. incarnata.
B. Meyeri (Meyer's). S. Stem erect, stout, woody when mature. l. large, broadly and obliquely ovate, fleshy, pale green; margin sinuate, under side tinged with rose; both petiole and blade covered with short hairs. fl. on long axillary peduncles, in large paniculate heads, white. Capsule wings equal. Summer. Brazil, 1844. (B. M. 4100.)
B. microphylla (small-leaved). Synonymous with B. foliosa.
B. microptera (small-winged). Stem 1ft. high, terete, green, pubescent, as in the rest of the plant. Branches few. l. sub-distichous, 4in. to 6in. long, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, serrated, dark green; petiole short; stipules as long as petiole. fl. in terminal panicles, medium-sized, white, tinted rose. Capsule long, triangular, two angles wingless, the other with a narrow wing. Winter. Borneo, 1856. (B. M. 4974.)
B. miniata (vermilion). A variety of B. fuchsioides.
B. monoptera (single-winged).* Stem erect, 1ft. to 2ft. high, rounded, swollen at the joints, dull red, papillose and downy. Radical leaves on long red stalks, large, reniform, truncate at the base; caulescent leaves smaller, on short petioles, angled, crenate, dark green above, red below, and minutely papillose. fl. on an elongated terminal raceme, white. Capsule three-angled, two wingless, the other with a long pointed wing. Summer. Brazil, 1826. A distinct and pretty species. (B. M. 3564.)
B. Moritziana (Moritz's). Synonymous with B. scandens.
B. natalensis (Natal).* T. Rootstock thick, fleshy. Stem 1½ft. high, succulent, thick at the base, articulate, branched, smooth. l. unequal, semicordate, acuminate, lobed, toothed, spotted with white. fl. on axillary cymose peduncles, pale rose. fr. three-winged, two large, one small. Winter. Natal, 1855. (B. M. 4841.)
B. nelumbiifolia (Nelumbium-leaved).* Rhizome thick, fleshy, creeping. l. on long hairy petioles; blade 12in. to 18in. long, 8in. to 12in. wide, peltate, hairy on under side; scape 1ft. to 2ft. high. fl. in cymose head, numerous, small, white or rose coloured. Winter. Mexico. A noble-foliaged plant. SYN. B. hernandiæfolia.
B. nemophila. Synonymous with B. Cathcartii.
B. nigro-venia (black-veined). Synonymous with B. glandulosa.
B. nitida (shining).* S. Stem 4ft. to 5ft. high, erect, branched, woody when aged, smooth, shining. l. large, glossy, green on both sides, obliquely ovate, acute, crenated at margin. fl. in terminal and axillary panicles, numerous, large, deep rose, handsome. Capsule three-winged, one much larger than others. Jamaica, 1777. One of the best winter, and almost a perpetual, flowering species. SYNS. B. obliqua, B. pulchra, B. purpurea. (B. M. 4046.)
B. obliqua (oblique). Synonymous with B. nitida.
B. octopetala (eight-petaled).* T. Stemless. l. on long succulent downy petioles, 1½ft. or more in length, cordate, 6in. long, deeply lobed and serrated at the margin, bright green; scape as long as petioles, rounded, downy. fl. in corymbs, greenish-white, males with eight petals, females generally fewer. Capsule three-angled, two wings almost suppressed, the other 1in. long; apex blunt, toothed. Autumn. Peru, 1835. SYN. B. grandiflora. (B. M. 3559.)
B. odorata (sweet-scented). Synonymous with B. suaveolens.
B. opuliflora (Guelder-rose-flowered).* S. Stem 1ft. high, branching, smooth. l. ovate oblong-acuminate, toothed, smooth above, hairy below. fl. white, in compact umbels, on erect scapes. Spring. New Grenada, 1854.
B. Ottoniana (Otton's). A hybrid from B. conchæfolia and B. coriacea. (R. G. 1859, p. 15.)
B. papillosa (papillose). A variety of B. incarnata.
B. Pearcei (Pearce's).* T. Stem 1ft. high, succulent, branching. l. lance-shaped, cordate, pointed, toothed, glabrous above, tomentose beneath, and pale red. fl. in loose axillary panicles, large, bright yellow. Summer. Bolivia, 1865. Interesting because of its being one of the progenitors of the handsome race of garden tuberous Begonias.
B. peltata (shield-like). Stem short, tomentose; leaves 6in. by 4in., peltate, ovate, densely pilose. fl. in branching cyme, small, white; peduncle 6in. to 9in., pilose. Brazil, 1815. Interesting because of its distinctly peltate foliage and silvery appearance of whole plant. SYNS. B. coriacea, B. Hasskarlii, B. hernandiæfolia, B. peltifolia.
B. peltifolia (peltate-leaved). Synonymous with B. peltata.
B. phyllomaniaca (proliferous-stemmed). S. Stem thick, fleshy, rather twisted, green, hairy, clothed, when old, with small viviparous buds bearing small leaves, by which means the plant may be multiplied. l. ovate, acuminate, cordate, sinuately lobed, ciliate, smooth above and below. fl. in axillary cymes, drooping, pale rose. Capsule with one large wing. Winter. Guatemala, 1861. (B. M. 5254.)
B. picta (ornamented).* T. Stem generally smooth, succulent, 6in. to 12in. high. l. ovate acuminate, nearly equally cordate, serrated, hairy above and on the nerves below, sometimes variegated. fl. pale rose, large, handsome; peduncle hairy, erect, short, few-flowered. Autumn. Himalaya, 1870. (S. E. B. 101.)
B. platanifolia (plane-leaved).* S. Stem 5ft. to 6ft. high, erect, robust, smooth, green; joints annulated. l. 8in. to 10in. in diameter, reniform, lobed, hispid on both sides, dark green; lobes acute, toothed, ciliated. fl. in axillary, dichotomous cymes, large, white, tinted rose, handsome. Summer. Brazil, 1834. (B. M. 3591.)
FIG. 232. BEGONIA POLYPETALA.
B. polypetala (many-petaled). Stem about 1ft. high, covered with a soft whitish tomentum. l. ovate-acute, toothed, pubescent above, and densely tomentose below. fl., petals nine or ten, of a fine red colour, smooth, external ones ovate-oblong, pointed; internal ones somewhat shorter and narrower; sepals two, ovate-elliptic. Capsule tomentose, three-winged, with one wing larger, ascendent. Winter. Andes of Peru, 1878. See Fig. 232. (Garden, Dec. 14, 1878.)
B. prestoniensis (Preston).* A garden hybrid between B. cinnabarina and B. nitida. l. green, lobed, glabrous. fl. brilliant orange-red, in drooping axillary cymes, very fragrant. Autumn and winter. 1867. (G. M. B. 3, 149.)
B. prismatocarpa (prism-fruited).* Stems small, creeping, hairy; branchlets ascending. l. long, petioled, also hairy, obliquely cordate, ovate, three to five-lobed; lobes pointed, serrated; peduncles axillary, longer than foliage, bearing a small umbel of two to four dipetalous orange and yellow flowers, one female in each umbel. Capsule four-angled, scarcely winged. Summer. Tropical West Africa, 1861. The smallest of cultivated Begonias, and especially interesting because of its four-angled fruit. It forms a pretty cushion of bright shining green foliage, thickly studded with its brightly coloured flowers. Requires a stove temperature and a stony soil. (B. M. 5307.)
B. pruinata (frosted).* Stem short, thick, fleshy, smooth. l. large, peltate, ovate, angular-sinuate, minutely-toothed; surface smooth, glaucous; margins pilose, on stout, fleshy petioles. fl. in large dense dichotomous, or small cymes, white. Winter. Central America, 1870. (R. B. 247.)
B. pulchra (fair). Synonymous with B. nitida.
B. punctata (dotted). A variety of B. heracleifolia.
B. purpurea (purple). Synonymous with B. acutifolia.
B. purpurea (purple). Synonymous with B. nitida.
B. Putzeysiana (Putzeys'). S. Stem erect, branching, smooth. l. oblong-lanceolate, acute, toothed, glabrous, under side spotted with white. fl. in copious small corymbs, white and rose, small. Capsule small, with rather large obtuse wings. Winter. Venezuela, 1871.
B. radiata (rayed). Synonymous with B. heracleifolia.
B. ramentacea (scaly).* S. Stem erect, branching, brown, scaly, as also are the leafstalks and peduncles. l. ovate, reniform, oblique; margins slightly angulate, recurved, under side red, scaly; peduncles branching. fl. drooping, pink and white, pretty. Capsule, when ripe, a bright scarlet; wings large. Spring. Brazil, 1839. (P. M. B. 12-73).
B. reniformis (kidney-formed). Synonymous with B. Dregei. (Gardens.)
B. reniformis (kidney-formed). Synonymous with B. vitifolia. (Hook.)