B. physandra

Culture

Original Botanical Description or Link to

Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. Cambridge, Mass. Harvard University MERRILL & PERRY, PLANTAE ARCHBOLDIANAE, XI v. 24 (1943): Page 41-59 http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/33600 Planta acaulis, foliis scapisque floriferis instructa; foliis membranaceis orbiculari-ovatis, 12- 18 cm. longis et 9-16 cm. latis, apice acutis vel breviter acuminatis, basi vix aequalibus oblique cordatis, margine duplicato-serratodenticulatis breviter setulosis interdum sinuato-sublobatis, supra conspersissime setulosis ( setulis 1 mm. longis), subtus prope basim sparsim hirsutis, nervis basalibus 6 vel 7 bi-trifurcatis, lateralibus utrinsecus 3; petiolo 10- 12 cm. Iongo fere glabro; stipulis ochraceis; scapo usque 30 cm. longo; inflorescentiis flores ♂ atque ♀ gerentibus; bracteis late ovatis 8- 9 mm. longis membranaceis; floribus ♂ : pedicello ± 1 cm. longo; tepalis 4, exterioribus ellipticis 1. 5 cm. longis et 1.1 cm. latis, interioribus 1.3 cm. longis et 1.1 cm. la tis obovatis retusis; staminibus 60 fasciculatim in columnam 1.5 mm. connatis; filamentis 1 mm. longis subaequalibus, connectivo 1 mm. longo apice evidenter inflato, thecis longitudinaliter dehiscentibus inter filamentum et connectivum inflatum positis; floribus ♀ ante anthesim: pedicello ±1 cm. longo; tepalis 4 ut in floribus ♂ ; stylis 3 in columnam brevem connatis deinde in crura spiraliter papillosa partitis; capsula verisimiliter matura 1 cm. longa et lata, alis 3 aequalibus rotundatis 2 mm. medio latis. In floral characters, this species and Begonia Archboldiana very closely resemble each other, but they seem to be distinct in vegetative characters; the former has not variegated leaves, the hairs on the upper surf ace of the leaf are shorter, stouter and much more scattered than in the latter, and the bracts of the inflorescence are almost three times as broad and probably white rather than ochraceous.