Begoniaceæ.—Monœcia-Polandria.
CHARAC. GENER.—Flores monoici. MASC. Perigonii tetraphylli
foliolis subrotundis, 4 exterioribus majoribus. Stamina
plurima; filamentis brevissimis liberis v. basi-connatis,
antheris extrorsis bilocularibus, loculis linearibus discretis,
connectivi continui obtusi margini adnatis longitudinaliter
dehiscentibus. FEM. Perigonii tubo triptero cum ovario connate,
limbi superi 4-9-partiti persistentis lobis pluriseriatim
imbricatis. Ovarium interum triloculare. Ovula in placentis
e loculorum angulo centrali bilamellatis plurima anatropa.
Styli 3 bifidi stigmatihus crassis flexuosis v. capitatis.
Capsula membranaceo-trialata trilocularis loculicide trivalvis.
Semina plurima minima striata. Embryo in axi albuminis carnosi
orthotropus.
Herbæ _in Asia et America tropica indigenæ, foliis alternis
petiolatis integris v. palmatilobis basi saepecordatis
inæquilateris integerrimis dentatis v. mucronatoserrutis_
stipulis _lateralibus membranaceis deciduis_, cymis
_axillaribus pedunculatis dichotomis_ floribus _albis roseis v.
rubincundis_.
CHARACT. SPECIF.—B. acaulis, rhizomate brevi crasso subtus
radicante, foliis amplis oblique cordato-ovatis brevi
acuminatis sinuatis denticulatis subtus discoloribus (rubris)
petiolis aggregatis crassis folium subaequantibus rubris
stipulatis crinitis, setis patentibus interioribus reflexis,
scapo petiolis duplo longiore, floribus nutantibus corymbosis
flavis, masculis tetrasepalis, sepalis 5 oblongo-cuneatis unico
majore rotundato magis concavo, foeminis triplo minoribus
hexasepalis, sepalis æqualibus ovali-rotundatis, fructus alis
duabus brevibus unica horizontaliter elongata striata. HOOK.
_Begonia xanthina_, HOOK, Bot. Mag. t. 4683.
Although many different species of this valuable genus have been
discovered up to this time, we have had only those with white or red
flowers. B. cinnabarina with its orange red flowers was an approach to
what we now figure—the Begonia xanthina. But even the yellow of this is
shaded with the red which prevails in a greater or less degree in the
flowers or leaves, and stalks of all the genus.
This species, which flowered in July, 1852, in the collection of Mr.
Nuttall, at Rainhill, Lincolnshire, was received by him in 1850, from the
Bootan Himalayas, having been sent thence by his nephew, Mr. Booth.
It may be some time before this beautiful plant is imported into this
country; but we know that our enterprizing nurserymen and amateurs will
obtain it as soon as it finds its way into the hands of the trade in
Europe.