FIG. 233. BEGONIA REX.
B. Rex (Royal).* Stemless; rhizome fleshy, creeping, subterraneous. Leafstalk round, red, setose. l. 8in. to 12in. long, 6in. to 8in. broad, ovate, oblique, sides unequal, cordate, villose; margins toothed, surface bullate, dark olive-green, with a metallic lustre, a broad silvery zone running all round, about 1in. from the margin. fl. in erect branching cyme, large, pale rose. Capsule wings, two short, one long and rounded. Assam, 1858. See Fig. 233. (B. M. 5101.) This magnificent species is the principal progenitor of the numerous ornamental-foliaged Begonias, a selection of which are given below. Most of them are well worth growing, but those named have been selected from a large number: MADAME WAGNER,* l. large, profound green, banded by a broad silvery zone, especially fine; MARSHALLI, l. very large, the margins and very centre dark green, while the greater portion of the surface is covered with a silvery-grey; REGINA,* l. rich olive-green, banded with a broad zone of bronze-red and silvery-grey, rendering it very attractive; ROI LEOPOLD,* l. on long stout petioles, very large, deep bronze-red in the centre, with a broad border of a rather lighter shade, very effective; ROLLISONI,* l. large, on long stalks, rich velvety-green, banded with silvery-grey; SPLENDIDA ARGENTEA,* l. large, of a greyish hue, veined with white, and tinged with bronze-red, very beautiful. The following varieties are also very good: ADRIEN ROBINE,* BERTHE PROUTIERE, CHARLES HOVEY, DISTINCTION,* JULIA SEROT,* LOUISE CHRETIEN,* MADAME J. MENOREAU,* NARGA,* NAVALA,* TALISMAN, W. E. GUMBLETON.
B. Richardsiana (Richards').* T. Stem 1ft. high, erect, fleshy, with slender branches. l. palmately lobed, the lobes sinuate or toothed. fl. white, males bipetalous, females with five petals. Cymes axillary near ends of branches, few-flowered. Capsule three-winged, wings equal. Summer. Natal, 1871. (G. C., 1871, p. 1065.)
B. R. diadema (of gardens).* This is referred to here because of its close resemblance to the above. It is most likely a hybrid between B. Richardsiana and B. dipetala. l. palmately lobed, rather large, spotted with white. fl. large, rose-coloured. Summer. 1881.
B. ricinifolia (Ricinus-leaved).* A garden hybrid between B. heracleifolia and B. peponifolia. l. large, bronzy green, in shape like those of the Castor-oil plant. fl. numerous, on an erect scape. Winter. 1847.
B. Roezlii (Roezl's). Synonymous with B. Lynchiana.
B. rosacea (rosy). Stem succulent, short. l. ovate obtuse, slightly pubescent, toothed; petioles long, pilose. fl. in few-flowered cymes, medium-sized, rose-coloured. New Grenada, 1860. (Garden, pl. 152.)
B. rosæflora (rose-flowered).* T. Stemless. Petioles, scapes, bracts, and stipules bright red. l. green, 2in. to 4in. wide, on stout hairy petioles, 2in. to 6in. long, orbicular-reniform, concave; margins lobed, red, toothed. Scapes stout, villous, three-flowered. fl. 2in. across, bright rose-red. Summer. Peru, 1867. One of the parents of the popular race of tuberous-rooted large-flowered Begonias. (B. M. 5680.)
B. rubricaulis (red-stalked).* Stemless. Leafstalks, peduncles, pedicels, and ovaries, a deep red colour. l. obliquely ovate, 4in. to 6in. long, slightly hairy, bright green, wrinkled; margins toothed and ciliated. Scape 1ft. high, erect, stout, branching at the top, forming a head of about a dozen flowers, which are large, white inside, rose-tinted outside. Capsule with one large wing, the others almost suppressed. Summer. Peru, 1834. (B. M. 4131.)
B. rubro-venia (red-veined).* Rootstock thick. Stems 12in. to 18in. high, red, pubescent. l. 4in. to 6in. long, elliptic or lanceolate acuminate, entire or slightly angular, toothed, green spotted with white above, purplish-brown below. Scapes axillary, red. fl. in cymose head; outer segments white with rose-red veins, inner segments pure white. Summer. Sikkim, &c., 1853. (B. M. 4689.)
B. sanguinea (blood-red). S. Stems woody when old, tall, stout, red, with scattered paler spots. l. 4in. to 6in. long, unequally cordate, acuminate, thick and somewhat fleshy in texture, minutely crenate, green above, deep red below; peduncles axillary, long, erect, red. fl. in a branching cyme, rather small, white. Capsule wings sub-equal. Spring. Brazil, 1836. (B. M. 3520.)
B. scabrida (rough). Stem stout, erect, somewhat succulent, covered with small tubercles. l. 6in. long, oblique, ovate-acute, cordate, toothed, slightly hairy. fl. white, small; cyme many-flowered. Capsule wings equal, large. Venezuela, 1857.
B. scandens (climbing).* Stem flexuose, fleshy, creeping or climbing, smooth. l. 4in. long, ovate acuminate, sub-cordate; margins irregularly toothed, pale shining green. fl. in axillary branching cymes, white, small. South America, 1874. Useful either as a basket plant or for training against moist walls. SYNS. B. elliptica, B. lucida, B. Moritziana. (R. G. 758.)
B. sceptrum (princely). S. l. obliquely ovate in outline, deeply lobed on one side; lobes oblong; obtuse, veins sunk, and the raised spaces between marked with large silvery blotches, and numerous smaller dots of silver grey. Brazil, 1883.
B. Schmidtiana (Schmidt's).* Stems 1ft. high, branching, herbaceous. l. obliquely cordate, ovate-acute, small, dark metallic green above, tinged with red below. fl. in loose drooping axillary panicles, white, small, numerous. Winter. Brazil, 1879. (R. G. 990.)
B. scutellata (salver-like). Synonymous with B. conchæfolia.
FIG. 234. BEGONIA SEMPERFLORENS FRAU MARIA BRANDT, showing Habit and Flower.
B. Sedeni (Seden's). T. A garden hybrid between B. boliviensis and B. Veitchii. Summer. 1869. A handsome plant, but much inferior to many of the more recent hybrids. (R. H. 1872, 90.)
B. semperflorens (always-flowering).* Stem fleshy, erect, smooth, reddish-green. l. ovate-rotundate, hardly cordate; margins serrated, ciliated, surface smooth, shining green. fl. on axillary stalks, near apex of stems, white or rose, rather large. Capsule wings two short, one long, rounded. Autumn. Brazil, 1829. A useful summer and autumn flowering species, of which there are several named varieties more or less distinct from the type, either in colour or size of flowers, or in habit of plant. The varieties carminea, gigantea, and rosea are perhaps the best. SYN. B. spathulata. (B. M. 2920.)
B. s. Frau Maria Brandt. A dwarf compact variety, with rose-tinted flowers. See Fig. 234.
B. socotrana (Socotra).* Stem annual, stout and succulent, forming at base a cluster of bulbils, each of which produces a plant the following year; sparsely hairy. l. dark green, orbicular, peltate, 4in. to 7in. across, centre depressed; margin recurved, crenate. fl. in terminal, few-flowered cymes, 1½in. to 2in. wide, bright rose. Capsule three-angled, one-winged. Winter. Socotra, 1880. Should be rested through the summer, and started in heat in September. A distinct and beautiful species. (B. M. 6555.)
B. spathulata (spathulate). Synonymous with B. semperflorens.
B. stigmosa (branded).* Rhizome creeping, fleshy. l. 6in. to 8in. long, oblique, cordate-acute, irregularly toothed, smooth above, hairy beneath, green, with brownish-purple blotches; stalks scaly, as in B. manicata. fl. in cymose panicles, white, medium-sized, numerous. Brazil, 1845.
B. strigillosa (strigillose).* Rhizome short, fleshy, creeping, l. 4in. to 6in. long, oblique, ovate-acute, cordate-toothed; margins ciliate, red; stalk and blade covered with fleshy scales; blade smooth, blotched with brown. fl. in branching cymes, dipetalous, small, rose-coloured. Summer. Central America, 1851.
B. suaveolens (sweet-scented). S. Stem branching, 2ft. high, smooth. l. 3in. to 4in. long, oblique-ovate, cordate-acute, crenulate, glabrous. fl. in axillary panicles, large, white. Winter. Central America, 1816. Resembles B. nitida, but may be distinguished by its distinctly crenulate leaves and smaller flowers, which are white, and not pale rose, as in B. nitida. SYN. B. odorata. (L. B. C. 69.)
B. Sutherlandi (Sutherland's).* T. Stems annual, 1ft. to 2ft. high, slender, graceful, red-purple. l. on slender red petioles, 2in. to 3in. long; blade 4in. to 6in. long, ovate-lanceolate, deeply lobed at base; margins serrate, bright green; nerves bright red. fl. in axillary and terminal cymes, numerous, orange-red, shaded with dark vinous-red. Capsule wings equal. Summer. Natal, 1867. (B. M. 5689.)
B. Teuscheri (Teuscher's). S. A strong, erect-growing, large-leaved plant, from the Dutch Indies, not yet flowered. l. cordate-ovate, acute, olive-green above, with greyish blotches; under side rich claret-coloured. Hort. Linden. (I. II. 1879, 358.)
B. Thwaitesii (Thwaites's).* Stemless. l. 2in. to 4in. in diameter, obtuse or sub-acute, cordate at base, minutely toothed, slightly pubescent, very shaggy when young, rich coppery-green, red-purple and blotched with white; under side blood red. fl. in an umbel, medium-sized; scape short, white. Capsule shaped like a Beech nut; wings short. Ceylon, 1852. One of the most beautiful of coloured-leaved Begonias, requiring a close, moist atmosphere in a stove. (B. M. 4692.)
B. ulmifolia (Elm-leaved). S. Stem 2ft. to 4ft. high, branching. l. 3in. to 4in. long, ovate-oblong, unequal-sided, toothed, rugose, hairy. fl. on hairy peduncles, numerous, small, white. Capsule wings two small, one large, ovate. Winter. Venezuela, 1854. (L. C. 638.)
B. undulata (wavy-leaved). S. Stem 2ft. to 3ft. high, erect, branching freely, turgid below, green, succulent until old. l. distichous, oblong-lanceolate, undulated, smooth, shining green. fl. in nodding axillary cymes, white, small. Winter. Brazil, 1826. (B. M. 2723.)
B. urophylla (caudate-leaved). Stemless. Leafstalks terete, succulent, clothed with scattered bristly hairs. l. large, 12in. long, broad, cordate; margin irregularly cut, toothed; apex long-pointed, green, smooth above, hairy beneath; peduncle stout, paniculate. fl. crowded, large, dipetalous, white. Spring. Brazil. (B. M. 4855.)
B. Veitchii (Veitch's).* T. Stem very short, thick, fleshy, green. l. orbiculate, cordate, lobed and incised; margins ciliated, green, principal nerves radiating from bright carmine spot near centre; under side pale green; petiole thick, terete, with a few hairs on the upper portion; scape 10in. to 12in. high, thick, terete, pilose, two-flowered. fl. 2¼in. in diameter, cinnabar red. Capsule smooth, two short, one long wings. Summer. Peru, 1867. One of the species from which the popular garden tuberous-rooted Begonias have been obtained. (B. M. 5663.)
B. Verschaffeltiana (Verschaffelt's).* A hybrid between B. carolinæfolia and B. manicata, with large ovate acutely-lobed leaves and flowers in large cymes, rose-coloured and pendent. Winter. (R. G. 1855, p. 248.)
B. vitifolia (Vine-leaved). S. Stem 3ft. to 4ft. high, thick, smooth, and fleshy. l. large as vine foliage, and similar in shape; peduncles axillary, erect, branching into a cymose head of small white flowers. Capsules three-angled, one-winged. Winter. Brazil, 1833. SYNS. B. grandis, B. reniformis. (B. M. 3225.)
B. Wagneriana (Wagner's). S. Stem 2ft. to 3ft. high, erect, glabrous, green, succulent, branched. l. cordate-ovate, acuminate; margins obscurely lobed, slightly serrate, quite glabrous; peduncles axillary and terminal, cymose. fl. numerous, white. Capsules, which are ripened in abundance, three-angled, one wing long, two short. Winter. Venezuela, 1856. (B. M. 4988.)
B. Warscewiczii (Warscewicz's). Synonymous with B. conchæfolia.
B. Weltoniensis (Welton). A garden hybrid; one of the oldest of cultivated winter-flowering kinds, with light pink flowers, very free.
B. xanthina (yellow-flowered).* Stem short, thick, fleshy, horizontal, along with petioles thickly-clothed with brown scaly hairs; petioles 6in. to 12in. long, stout, terete, fleshy, reddish-brown; blade 8in. to 12in. long, cordate-ovate, acuminate, sinuate-ciliated, dark green above, purplish beneath. Flower-stalks erect, 1ft. high, bearing a cymose head of large golden flowers. Capsule with one large wing. Summer. Boutan, 1850. (B. M. 4683.)
B. x. Lazuli (Lapis-lazuli).* Foliage metallic purple, with a bluish tinge.
B. x. pictifolia (ornamented-leaved).* l. with large silvery spots, and pale yellow flowers.
The following list comprises a selection of some of the best and most distinct of the innumerable varieties now existing in gardens, and which have been obtained by crossing and re-crossing the several tuberous-rooted species found in the temperate regions of South America.
FIG. 235. FLOWERING BRANCH OF BEGONIA ADMIRATION.
Single-Flowered Varieties. Crimson and Scarlet Shaded: ADMIRATION, flowers vivid orange-scarlet, of dwarf, compact habit, and free flowering (see Fig. 235); ARTHUR G. SOAMES,* brilliant crimson scarlet, of excellent form, and very free; BALL OF FIRE,* glowing fiery-scarlet, flowers large and compact, very free; BLACK DOUGLAS,* dark carmine crimson, flowers large, of the finest form, one of the best; BRILLIANT, deep orange-scarlet, very free; CHARLES BALTET, rich velvety vermilion; COMMODORE FOOT,* brilliant velvety crimson, very free and showy; DAVISII, flowers small, dazzling scarlet, habit dwarf and free; DR. MASTERS,* flowers large, with immense spikes, deep red-crimson, very attractive; DR. SEWELL,* glowing crimson, grand form; EXONIENSIS, brilliant orange-scarlet, immense flowers; F. E. LAING, deep velvety crimson, full and free; HON. MRS. BRASSEY,* deep glowing crimson, very rich and floriferous; J. H. LAING,* brilliant scarlet, one of the freest; J. W. FERRAND,* rich vermilion, dwarf and free, one of the finest for bedding; LOTHAIR,* dark scarlet-carmine, crimson shaded, of grand form and size; MARQUIS OF BUTE, brilliant carmine-crimson, of the finest form, and immense flowers; SCARLET GEM,* very dark scarlet, flowers medium-sized, dwarf and very floriferous; SEDENI, rich rosy-crimson, dwarf, a good bedder; VESUVIUS,* bright orange-scarlet, compact and free, one of the finest bedders.