B. Rex

(Royal).* Stemle ; 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. A am, 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: M ADAME W AGNER,* l. large, profound green, banded by a broad silvery zone, especially fine; M ARSHALLI, l. very large, the margins and very centre dark green, while the greater portion of the surface is covered with a silvery-grey; R EGINA,* l. rich olive-green, banded with a broad zone of bronze-red and silvery-grey, rendering it very attractive; R OI L EOPOLD,* l. on long stout petioles, very large, deep bronze-red in the centre, with a broad border of a rather lighter shade, very effective; R OLLISONI,* l. large, on long stalks, rich velvety-green, banded with silvery-grey; S PLENDIDA A RGENTEA,* l. large, of a greyish hue, veined with white, and tinged with bronze-red, very beautiful. The following varieties are also very good: A DRIEN R OBINE,* B ERTHE P ROUTIERE, C HARLES H OVEY, D IS TINCT I ON,* J ULIA S EROT,* L OUISE C HRETIEN,* M ADAME J. M ENOREAU,* N ARGA,* N AVALA,*