B. saxicola

Culture

Original Botanical Description or Link to

336. B. saxicola (Alph. DC.1.c. p.144), glabra, ramis lignosis albidis, lævibus foliis ellipticus utrinque obtusiusculis breviter petiolatis serrato-dentatis passim inter dentes setiferis cæterum glabris, stipulis lanceolatis, acutis, scariosis, pedunculis rectis apice bis terve dichotomis, bracteis anguste lanceolatis acuminatis caducis, sepalis masc. ovato-rotundatis, petalis multo brevioribus, fl. fem. bracteolis oblongis minutis subulatis caducis, lobis ovatis exterioribus multo brevioribus, capsulâ superne truncatâ stylis orbatâ alis valde inæqualibus majore dimidiato-ovatâ basi subdecurrente [symbol = “Suffrutex, nempe planta lignosa cujus altitudo ad summum bipedalis”] In rupestribus Sierræ de Araripo Brasiliæ (Gardn.! 2029 in h. Hook.). Folia pauca 2 poll. longa, pollicem lata, penninervia, nervis lateralibus utrique 5, petiolo 4-5 lin. longo. Stipulæ prope folia delapsæ in specimine, secus ramulos apyllos extantes, 4-5 lin. longæ, 2 lin. basi latæ, muticæ vel mucronatæ, erectæ, imbricatæ. Pedunculi 3 poll. longi. Bracteæ minimæ, 2-1 lin. longæ. Flores albi. Sepala masc. 3 lin. longa. Flores fem. In specim. Inaperti, lobis majoribus lineam longis, exterioribus multo brevioribus, an serius subæqualibus? Capsula 6 lin. longa, 8 lin. superne lata, ex decurrentiâ alæ basi paulo acuta. Semina ellipsoidea, placentis bipartitis inserta. Habitus B. fuchsioidis, nec non B. Ottonis (sect. Begoniastri), sed stylos ex floribus paucis junioribus herb. Hook. non observare ausus sum, et ideo locus in genere dubius. (v. s.) English translation: [Stems] glabrous, with whitish woody branches, shiny elliptical leaves somewhat obtusely shortened on both sides provided with a petiole[,] [margins] everywhere saw-toothed bearing bristles between teeth - otherwise glabrous, stipules lanceolate acute membranous, male flower sepals round-ovate, petals very short, female flowers with caducous minute oblong bracteoles that taper to a fine point, outer lobes oval [and] very short, capsule ending abruptly at the top, styles fallen off, wings strongly unequal with almost half-ovals extending below the largest. [A.DC. Symbol = “ half-shrub, namely a woody plant of which the height to to the top is about 2 feet”] Rock-dwelling in the Sierre de Araripo [located on the border of the Brazilian state of Ceará, Piauí and Pernambuco] Brazil ([Type] Gardener’s collection #2029 in W. J. Hooker’s herbarium) Few leaves 5.4 cm long, 2.7 cm. wide, pinnately nerved, with 5 lateral nerves on each side, with a 9-11 mm long petiole. [???]Stipules near leaves fallen away in the specimen, extending along the leafless branchlets, 9-11 mm long, 4.5 mm at the bottom side, blunt or pointed, erect, imbricate [having a tiled appearance]. Peduncles 8 cm long. Bracts very small, 2.5 mm long. Flowers white. Male sepals 7 mm long. Female flowers unopened on specimen, the larger lobes 2.25 mm long, the outer ones much smaller, or later almost equal? Capsule 13.5 mm long, 18 mm on the upper side, the decurrent wings extend downward somewhat acutely. Seeds ellipsoidal, attached to bipartite placentas. Habit like B. fuchsioides, and also B. Ottonis (sect. Begoniastri), but styles from a few flowers of younger plants. Hooker did not see this, and therefore its placement is somewhat doubtful. K. Langenberg