Pellionia
(named after A. M. J. Alphonse Pellion, an officer in Freycinet's voyage round the world). ORD. Urticaceae. A genus comprising fifteen species of mostly stove herbs, often creeping at base, rarely suffruticose; they inhabit tropical and Eastern Asia, as far as Japan, and the Pacific Islands. Flowers diaecious or monoecious, densely cymose or sub-capitate; perianths of five, rarely four, divisions. Leaves variable. The only species introduced are stove, creeping, perennial herbs, with ornamental foliage. They thrive in rich, sandy loam, and require a moist atmosphere. Propagated by divisions, or by cuttings.
P. Daveauana (Daveau's).* fl. green; females very minute; males six to eight times larger; perianths five-parted; inflorescence pedunculate, densely cymose. August. l. alternate, stipulate, 1/2in. to 2 1/4in. long, oblique, roundish-elliptic or elliptic-oblong, obtuse, dark bronzy-olive-green, slightly tinted with violet, or marked with a broad, central, irregular band of bright green. Stems succulent. Cochin China, 1880. A charming creeper. SYN. Begonia Daveauana. (I. H. n. s. 472.) P. D. viridis (green). l. uniformly bright green, with whitish blotches. Stem, as well as the petioles, midrib, and veins of the leaves, sparsely hairy. 1882.
P. pulchra (pretty).* l. alternate, petiolate, stipulate, obliquely oblong, very obtuse, obliquely cordate at base; upper surface dull blackish along the midrib and veins; under surface pale, and rather delicate purplish; primary veins five on each side. Stem fleshy, creeping, tinged with a dull purplish colour. Cochin China, 1882. Plant glabrous, except a few hairs on the upper side of the petioles. (I. H. 479.)