B. brassii

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 Herba erecta gracilis; cauli simplice vel apicem versus pauci-ramoso et crispule hirtello deorsum glabro, nodis imis radicante; foliis tenuiter chartaceis fere membranaceis lanceolato-ellipticis, 3 .5-9 cm. longis et 1-3 .5 cm. latis, apice acutiusculis, basi valde obliquis, latere exteriore in lobum brevem, (5 mm. longum) productis nervis basalibus plerumque 3, latere interiore connatis vel subobtusis nervis basalibus 1 vel 2, lateralibus 4 ascendentibus, margine irregulariter remotiuscule subduplicato-dentatis minute setulosis, supra glabris, subtus costa nervisque hirtellis: petiolo 1-3 cm. longo hirtello: stipulis ovatis 5 mm. longis, apice setulosis, glabris ochraceis: inflorescentiis terminalibus vel in axillibus superioribus 3-5 cm. longis racemosis flores ♂ atque ♀ gerentibus; bracteis albis late ovatis ± 8 mm. longis semiamplexicaulibus; floribus ♂ : pedicello circiter 8 mm. longo glabro: tepalis 4 oblongis exterioribus 8 mm. interioribus 4 mm. longis: staminibus 4, filamentis 2 mm. longis liberis, antheris 0.5 mm. longis ovatis vel subrotundatis: floribus ♀ : immaturis: pedicello 5 mm. longo: tepalis 3 vel 4 ellipticis, 8-9 mm. longis, 4.5 mm. latis, apice obtusis; stylis 3 erectis liberis quove 2 mm. supra basim, partito, brachiis haud tortis stigmaticis subchartaceis complanatis 2 mm. longis, margine irregulariter erosis obscure papillosis; ovario 2-3 mm. longo glabro, alis inaequalibus; capsula cernua 6 mm. longa, alis 2 ,aequalibus ± rotundatis 3 mm. medio latis, una 1 cm. longa et 4 mm. lata chartacea viridescente. The flowers, both staminate and pistillate, of Begonia Brassii and B. oligandra closeIy resemble each other in the very few stamens and the unequal wings of the capsule; two wings are alike and more or less follow the contour of the ovary, while the third is less developed towards the base of the ovary, but in the dried flower apparently lies projecting upward against the tepals, the margin being inconspicuously 2- or 3-dentate somewhat like the margin of a minute leaf. In fruit, this wing stancis straight out between the other two and is greenish, whereas the two smaller ones tend to be straw-colored in the dried specimens. The style-branches in all the flowers examined are flattened and not in any case twisted, as is usual in the other species of the genus.