Begonia
Of this vast genus about 330 species are known; they are mostly natives of tropical America and tropical and sub-tropical Asia and Africa, and are rarely found in the Pacific Islands. To the species and varieties described on pp. 170-9, Vol. I., the following should now be added: B. albo-picta (white-painted). l. shortly stalked, small, elliptic-lanceolate, glossy green, freely spotted with bright silvery-white. Brazil. Plant of shrubby habit.
B. Ameliae (Amelia's). fl. bright rose-coloured, disposed in terminal, trichotomously-branched cymes. l. obliquely cordate-ovate, crenulate, shining green. 1885. Habit robust, compact, and branching. A greenhouse, garden hybrid between B. Bruantii and B. Lynchiana. (R. H. 1885, p. 512, f. 89-90.) B. Beddomei (Beddome's). T. fl. pale rose-coloured, cymose, the males 1 1/2in. in diameter, the females smaller and darker; scape shorter than the petioles, brown-scaly. December. l. radical, erect; blade horizontal, 4in. to 6in. in diameter, membranous and pellucid, broadly and obliquely ovate-cordate or orbicular-cordate, obscurely lobed and denticulate, ciliolate, pale green with white spots above, dull red-purple beneath; petioles hairy, 4in. to 6in. long. Assam, 1883. (B. M. 6767.) B. Bismarcki (Bismarck's). fl. light satiny-rose, 1 1/2in. across panicles large, drooping, many-flowered. November and December. l. large, lobed, very acuminate, oblique, 6in. long. 1888. Garden variety. B. Carrieri (Carriere's). This is said to be a hybrid between B. semperflorens and B. Schmidtiana. The flowers are nearly as large as those of B. semperflorens rosea, and are produced much more plentifully. l. roundish-ovate, of a bright, cheerful green. Small plants appear to flower with great freedom. 1884.
B. castaneaefolia (Castanea-leaved). A synonym of B. fruticosa. B. Clementinae (Princess Clementine's). l. large, deflexed, roundish-ovate, cordate at the base, the margin lobed; upper surface bronzy-green, irregularly banded greenish-white; under surface rose-coloured, with ribs of a darker hue. A hybrid, said to be raised between B. diadema and B. Rex. (G. C. ser. iii., vol. iii. p. 265.) B. compta (adorned). l. of a satiny green, a silvery tinge running along the course of the midrib, obliquely ovate, angular. Brazil, 1886. A pretty, stove plant.
B. cyclophylla (round-leaved). T. fl. rose-coloured and rose-scented, disposed in a trichotomous cyme, the males 1in. to 1 1/4in. in diameter; scape 6in. high, slender, glabrous. April. l. solitary, 6in. broad, orbicular-cordate, with overlapping basal lobes, obtuse or sub-acute, palmately seven to nine-nerved, obscurely denticulate; petiole shorter than the blade. South China, 1885. (B. M. 6926.) B. decora (decorative). l. dark green, profusely dotted with silvery-grey, something in the way of those of B. maculata, but the spots more minute, obliquely lanceolate. Brazil, 1886. Stove, shrubby variety. B. diadema (diadem). l. deeply digitate-lobed; lobes irregular, glossy, quite glabrous, light green, irregularly marked with white blotches; under surface with a red zone near the stalk. A handsome foliage plant. Borneo, 1883. (I. H. xxix. 446.) B. egregia (notable). fl. white, 1/2in. across, many in a gracefully drooping, corymbose cyme 3in. to 4in. in diameter; peduncle 2 1/2in. to 3in. long. Winter. l. peltate, 8in. to 11in. long, 2 1/2in. to 4in. broad, obliquely oblong, acuminate, obtusely rounded at the unequal base, hairy; petioles 2 1/2in. to 3in. long. Stem woody below. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Brazil, 1887. B. fruticosa (shrubby). fl. pink, small, sub-umbellate; cymes often shorter than the leaves. February. l. ovate-oblong, 2in. to 3in. long, seven to nine lines broad, penninerved, shortly petiolate, obtuse or sub-acute at base, repandly serrate-toothed, glabrous, and as well as the stipules and bracts, persistent. h. 3ft. Brazil, 1838. SYN. B. castaneoefalia. B. f. alba (white). A large and robust variety, with white flowers. B. gracilis racemiflora (racemose-flowered). A useful, decorative variety, of bushy habit, having darker flowers than the type, and red stems. 1836. B. Hoegeana (Hoege's). fl. white, disposed in lax, axillary cymes, only half as large as those of B. nitida (which this plant somewhat resembles). l. broadly ovate, rounded at base, scarcely oblique. Mexico, 1886. A very glabrous, greenhouse climber.
B. hybrida coccinea (red). fl. bright scarlet, freely produced. Winter. A desirable hybrid, of dwarf, compact habit.
B. Johnstoni (Johnston's). fl. pale rose-coloured; males 1 1/2in. to 2in. in diameter, with four broadly oblong sepals, and numerous stamens; females smaller, with five sepals; cymes four to six-flowered; peduncles long. April. l. 4in. to 6in. long, obliquely ovate, acute, coarsely crenate, deeply two-lobed at the lateral base, hairy; petioles 4in. to 6in. long. Stem succulent, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high, and, as well as the branches, petioles, peduncles, and pedicels, marked with scarlet striae. Tropical Africa, 1884. (B. M. 6899.) B. Lubbersii (Lubbers').* fl. white, tinged green, large, in axillary, nodding cymes of about six. l. alternate, distichous, smooth, entire, peltately attached to fleshy petioles; stipules large, ovate, persistent, bright red. Stems cylindrical, green, deflexed at the tips. Brazil, 1884. A handsome, sub-shrubby species. (B. H. 1883, 13.) B. manicata aureo-maculata (golden-spotted). l. round, mottled with white. B. Margaritae (Margaret's). fl. pale rosy, large, in corymbose cymes; sepals of the males orbicular, having a large tuft of rosy hairs at the base. l. large, obliquely cordate-ovate, dark, shining green, with purple reflections. 1884. A garden hybrid between B. echinosepala and B. incarnata metallica, of tall and vigorous habit. (R. H. 1884, p. 200, f. 48.) B. Meysseliana (Meyssel's). l. pale green, ornamented with silvery spots. Sumatra, 1884. A stove or greenhouse, foliage plant, suitable for outdoor decoration in summer.
B. olbia (rich). fl. white, in small cymes, freely produced from the axils of the leaves. l. oblique, five-nerved, irregularly toothed, slightly bullate, the upper surface of a very dark bronzy-green, covered with small, reddish hairs, and studded with small, neat, round, white spots, the under surface of a deep red; petioles erect. Stems short, fleshy. Brazil, 1883. (F. & P. 1884, 603.) B. rubella (reddish). l. numerous, obliquely ovate, lobed, toothed, ciliated, bronzy-green, the veins marked out with pale green, spotted all over with purplish-brown, the under surface red. Stems stout, decumbent. India, 1883. B. semperflorens rosea (rosy). fl. bright rose-coloured, the petals white at base. 1883. A pretty, free-flowering, garden variety. (R. H. 1881, p. 330.) B. s. Sturzii (Sturz'). fl. rose-pink, disposed in cymose panicles. l. whitish-spotted. 1886. A fine, floriferous variety. (R. G. 1220.) B. socotrana. Seedling hybrid forms have been obtained by crossing the summer-flowering, tuberous, garden varieties with B. socotrana. The following are of great horticultural value, and the richly-coloured sprays of flowers are valuable for placing in vases: ADONIS, flowers rosy-carmine, medium-sized, leaves large and handsome, habit robust and erect: AUTUMN ROSE, flowers rose-pink, pretty, intermediate between those of B. incarnata and B. socotrana (the pollen parent); JOHN HEAL, flowers clear rose, lasting for two or three weeks, leaves much smaller than those of ADONIS, habit graceful; WINTER GEM, flowers more crimson than carmine, freely produced, leaves rhomboid, more like B. socotrana than the other hybrids. The first three can be freely propagated by cuttings; but the last can only be increased by the small tubers at the base of the stem.
Varieties. The improvement in this popular greenhouse flower has been quite marvellous during the last few years. The single and double varieties of the tuberous section have been obtained of the finest form, and of the richest and most varied colours: white, blush, pale rose, and salmon to the richest, darkest crimson. We have also clear yellow, orange, bronze, apricot, and such tints as are seldom seen in garden flowers. The following is a very select list from the numerous varieties quite recently introduced: Single-flowered. ANAK, deep rose, very large flowers; BARONESS ROTHSCHILD, scarlet, white centre; BEAUTY, scarlet, white centre; BLACK KNIGHT, very dark crimson; BRIDESMAID, pure white; COUNTESS, orange-yellow; COUNTESS OF ROSSLYN, bronzy-orange; DISTINCTION, crimson, white centre; DOWAGER LADY WYNN, white, shaded violet-rose; DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH, yellow, shaded orange; DUKE OF EDINBURGH, reddish-maroon; EARL OF CHESTERFIELD, rich crimson; EXCELSIOR, yellow; FAIRY QUEEN, white, edged pale pink; GOLDEN QUEEN, clear rich yellow; GUARDSMAN, vermilion; HER MAJESTY, pale pink; LADY CLONCURRY, salmon-pink, white centre; LADY IDDESLEIGH, bronzy-yellow; LORD LEWISHAM, scarlet; LORD SALISBURY, deep red; LOVELINESS, white, violet-crimson margin; MAIDEN'S BLUSH, blush, tinted rose; MR. CULLINGFORD, rosy-red; MRS. LEGH, intense crimson-scarlet, shaded violet; MRS. MILNER, soft rosy-pink; MRS. SHEPHERD, purest white; NORMA, magenta-red; NOVELTY, salmon-red, new colour; PRINCE OF WALES, scarlet; PRINCESS LOUISE, white; PRINCESS OF WALES, full rosy-pink; PRINCESS VICTORIA, rosy-red; ROSEA COMPACTA, rose, handsome form; ROSE CELESTE, rich rosy-pink; ROSY MORN, delicate rose; TOREY LAING, orange, red, and yellow; WHITE PERFECTION, pure white, fine.
Double-flowered. ADONIS, salmon, light centre; ALBA FIMBRIATA, pure white, fringed; ALBA MAGNA, very large, pure white; ALBA ROSEA, pink, white centre; ARGUS, purplish-rose; CAMELLIA, deep reddish-scarlet; CANNELL'S TRIUMPH, pink, very large; CLARIBEL, pale rose, white center; DAVISII GIGANTEA FLOREPLENO, reddish-crimson; DR. MASTERS, blush, large, well-formed flowers; DUCHESS OF TECK, clear yellow, very large; EDELWEISS, very fine white; GIGANTEA, large clusters of salmon-rose flowers; GLOW, intense scarlet; HARTINGTON, rose; H. BARNET, dark crimson; IONA, salmon-scarlet (hybrid from DAVISII); I. WALKER, crimson-scarlet, large; JUBILEE, magenta-rose, large, full flower; LADY JULIAN GOLDSMID, bright pink, large; LADY LENNOX, rich yellow, full; LADY ROTHSCHILD, pink, large outer petals; LEONORA, pink, with paler margin; LILLIE, salmon-rose, white centre; LORD LOUGHBOROUGH, bright scarlet; LORD ROTHSCHILD, pink, large flowers; MAJOR LENDY, pink, with yellow tinge; MARGINATA, white, pink margin; MARQUIS OF STAFFORD, creamy-white; MR. H. ADCOCK, crimson-scarlet; MRS. B. WYNNE, salmon; MRS. CARTER, bright rose; MRS. J. MIDSON, white; MRS. LEWIS CASTLE, salmon shaded; MRS. W. B. MILLER, soft salmon; MRS. W. F. BENNETT, soft yellow, large; PERFECTION, deep salmon-red, large; PRINCESS MAUD, pure white, full flower; ROSY GEM, deep rose; SCARLET PERFECTION, vivid scarlet; SHIRLEY HIBBERD, creamy-white, tinged blush; SIR J. PENDER, rich salmon; TERRA-COTTA, very distinct buff colour; VISCOUNTESS CRANBROOK, deep rose, flaked white.