Begonia

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Begonia
Begonia obliqua00.jpg
Begonia obliqua
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Begoniaceae
Genus: Begonia
L.
Type species
Begonia obliqua
L.
Species
Begonia Distribution Map.svg
Range of the genus Begonia
Synonyms
List
    • AugustiaKlotzsch
    • BaryaKlotzsch
    • BegoniellaOliv.
    • CasparyaKlotzsch
    • CladomischusKlotzsch ex A.DC.
    • CyathocnemisKlotzsch
    • DiplocliniumLindl.
    • DonaldiaKlotzsch
    • DoratometraKlotzsch
    • EupetalumLindl.
    • EwaldiaKlotzsch
    • FalkeaJ.Koenig ex Steud.
    • GaerdtiaKlotzsch
    • GireoudiaKlotzsch
    • GurltiaKlotzsch
    • HaageaKlotzsch
    • HusziaKlotzsch
    • IsopteryxKlotzsch
    • KnesebeckiaKlotzsch
    • LaucheaKlotzsch
    • LepsiaKlotzsch
    • MagnusiaKlotzsch
    • MeziereaGaudich.
    • MitscherlichiaKlotzsch
    • MoschkowitziaKlotzsch
    • NephromischusKlotzsch
    • PetermanniaKlotzsch
    • PilderiaKlotzsch
    • PlatycentrumKlotzsch
    • PlatycliniumT.Moore
    • PritzeliaKlotzsch
    • PutzeysiaKlotzsch
    • RachiaKlotzsch
    • ReichenheimiaKlotzsch
    • RiessiaKlotzsch
    • RossmanniaKlotzsch
    • SasseaKlotzsch
    • SaueriaKlotzsch
    • ScheidweileriaKlotzsch
    • SemibegoniellaC.DC.
    • SphenantheraHassk.
    • SteineriaKlotzsch
    • StibadothecaKlotzsch
    • SymbegoniaWarb.
    • TittelbachiaKlotzsch
    • TrachelanthusKlotzsch
    • TrachelocarpusMüll.Berol.
    • TrendelenburgiaKlotzsch
    • TrilomisaRaf.
    • WageneriaKlotzsch
    • WeilbachiaKlotzsch & Oerst.

Begonia is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Begoniaceae. The genus contains more than 2,000 different plant species. The Begonias are native to moist subtropical and tropical climates. Some species are commonly grown indoors as ornamental houseplants in cooler climates. In cooler climates some species are cultivated outside in summertime for their bright colorful flowers, which have sepals but no petals.

Contents

Pink flowering Begonia Petals 0016.jpg
Pink flowering Begonia

Description

With 2,002 species, Begonia is one of the largest genera of flowering plants. [1] [2] The species are terrestrial (sometimes epiphytic) herbs or undershrubs, and occur in subtropical and tropical moist climates, in South and Central America, Africa, and southern Asia. Terrestrial species in the wild are commonly upright-stemmed, rhizomatous, or tuberous. The plants are monoecious, with unisexual male and female flowers occurring separately on the same plant; the male contains numerous stamens, and the female has a large inferior ovary and two to four branched or twisted stigmas. In most species, the fruit is a winged capsule containing numerous minute seeds, although baccate fruits are also known. The leaves, which are often large and variously marked or variegated, are usually asymmetric such that their left side and right side are different sizes.

Taxonomy

The genus name Begonia was coined by Charles Plumier, a French patron of botany, and adopted by Linnaeus in 1753, to honor Michel Bégon, a former governor of the French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti).

Phylogeny

The following phylogenetic tree shows the relationships among sections of the genus Begonia. [3]

Hillebrandia

Begonia
YellowFlowering AfricanBegonia (YFAB)

Section Scutobegonia

Section Filicibegonia

Section Loasibegonia

Section Erminea

FleshyFruited AfricanBegonia (FFAB)

Section Quadrilobaria pro parte

Section Mezierea

NerviplacentariaQuadrilobaria Clade

MalagasyBegonia (MB)

Section Tetraphilapro parte

Section Tetraphilapro parte

Section Baccabegonia

Section Squamibegonia

Section Tetraphilapro parte

Seasonally Dry Adapted AfricanBegonia 1 (SDAAB 1)

Section Sexalaria

Section Rostrobegonia

Neotropical Clade 1

Section Gaerdtia

Section Latistigma

Section Tetrachia

Section Kollmannia

Begonia acetosa Clade

Section Donaldia

Section Stellandrae

Wagneria Clade

Core Pritzelia Clade

AsianBegonia
SocotranBegonia (SB)

Section Peltaugustia

Section Reichenheimiapro parte

Section Haagea

Begonia dioica

Section Reichenheimiapro parte

Asian Clade C

Section Lauchea

Section Parvibegonia + Begonia smithiae

Section Diplocliniumpro parte

Section Alicida

Section Diplocliniumpro parte

Begonia boisiana

Section Diplocliniumpro parte

Section Diplocliniumpro parte

Section Diplocliniumpro parte

Section Diplocliniumpro parte

Section Platycentrum

Asian Clade D

Section Coelocentrum

Begonia peltatifolia

Begonia amphioxus Clade

Section Ridleyella

Section Baryandra

Section Begonia olivacea

Section Jackia

Section Bracteibegonia

PtermanniaSymbegonia Clade

Seasonally Dry Adapted AfricanBegonia 2 (SDAAB 2)

Section Augustia

Neotropical Clade 2
Neotropical Clade 2iii

Begonia bifurcata

Section Eupetalumpro parte

Section Eupetalumpro parte

Section Eupetalumpro parte

Begonia cremnophila Clade

Section Knesebeckia I + Section Barya

Section Australes

Section Knesebeckia III pro parte

Begonia froebelii

Section Knesebeckia III pro parte

Begonia lutea

Section Knesebeckia II

Section Gobenia

Neotropical Clade 2i

Section Quadriperigonia

Section Parietoplacentalia

Section Urniformia

Section Gireoudia

Neotropical Clade 2ii

Section Astrothrix

Section Solananthera

Section Microtuberosa

Section Pereira

Section Trachelocarpus

Section Rossmannia

Section Pilderia

Section Ephemera

Section Ruizopavonia

CasparyaSemibegoniella Clade

Section Lepsia

Section Doratometra

Section Begonia

Begonia acutifolia Clade

Section Hydristyles

Section Cyathcnemis

Species

Selected species: [4]

Cultivation

A potted angel wing begonia (Begonia aconitifolia x B. coccinea) Angel Wing Begonia.JPG
A potted angel wing begonia (Begonia aconitifolia × B. coccinea)

The different groups of begonias have different cultural requirements, but most species come from tropical regions, so they and their hybrids require warm temperatures. Most are forest understory plants and require bright shade; few will tolerate full sun, especially in warmer climates. In general, begonias require a well-drained growing medium that is neither constantly wet nor allowed to dry out completely. Many begonias will grow and flower year-round except for tuberous begonias, which usually have a dormant period. During this dormant period, the tubers can be stored in a cool, dry place. Begonias of the semperflorens group (or wax begonias) are frequently grown as bedding plants outdoors. Wax begonias are very attractive, they adapt well when brought inside the house for overwintering and can live up to 4-5 years. [5]

A recent group of hybrids derived from this group is marketed as "Dragonwing" begonias; they are much larger both in leaf and in flower. Tuberous begonias are frequently used as container plants. Although most Begonia species are tropical or subtropical in origin, the Chinese species B. grandis is hardy to USDA hardiness zone 6 and is commonly known as the "hardy begonia". Most begonias can be grown outdoors year-round in subtropical or tropical climates, but in temperate climates, begonias are grown outdoors as annuals, or as house or greenhouse plants.

Most begonias are easily propagated by division or from stem cuttings. In addition, some can be propagated from leaf cuttings or even sections of leaves, particularly the members of the rhizomatous and rex groups.

Horticultural nomenclature

Plum Paisley Begonias in a greenhouse. Plum Paisley Begonias.JPG
Plum Paisley Begonias in a greenhouse.

The nomenclature of begonias can be very complex and confusing. The term 'picotee' refers to edging on the petals that is in contrast to the color of the main petal if the colors blend. If they do not, then the term 'marginata' is used, but sometimes these terms are used simultaneously. [6] 'Non-Stop' refers to a camellia tuberous hybrid that under certain conditions will bloom 'non-stop' all year round.

Cultivar groups

Display of (tuberous) begonias, Hampton Court Flower Show Begonia display.jpg
Display of (tuberous) begonias, Hampton Court Flower Show

Because of their sometimes showy flowers of white, pink, scarlet, or yellow color and often attractively marked leaves, many species and innumerable hybrids and cultivars are cultivated. The genus is unusual in that species throughout the genus, even those coming from different continents, can frequently be hybridized with each other, and this has led to an enormous number of cultivars. The American Begonia Society is the International Cultivar Registration Authority for Begonia, and classifies them into several major groups:

For the most part, these groups do not correspond to any formal taxonomic groupings or phylogeny, and many species and hybrids have characteristics of more than one group or do not fit well in any of them.

AGM plants

The following is a selection from about 70 species, varieties and cultivars which currently hold the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit: [7]

  • Begonia 'Benitochiba' [8]
  • Begonia dregei [9]
  • Begonia foliosa var. miniata [10]
  • Begonia 'Glowing Embers' [11]
  • Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana [12]
  • Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana var. alba [13]
  • Begonia 'Green Gold' [14]
  • Begonia listada [15]
  • Begonia luxurians [16]
  • Begonia masoniana [17]
  • Begonia metallica [18]
  • Begonia solananthera [19]
  • Begonia soli-mutata [20]
  • Begonia sutherlandii [21]

Culture

The cultivar 'Kimjongilia' is a floral emblem of North Korea.

Most begonias are sour to the taste, and some people in some areas eat them. This is safe in small amounts but potentially toxic in large quantities due to the prevalence of oxalic acid in the tissues. [22]

Related Research Articles

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Canna or canna lily is the only genus of flowering plants in the family Cannaceae, consisting of 10 species. All of the genus's species are native to the American tropics and were naturalized in Europe, India and Africa in the 1860s. Although they grow native to the tropics, most cultivars have been developed in temperate climates and are easy to grow in most countries of the world, as long as they receive at least 6–8 hours average sunlight during the summer, and are moved to a warm location for the winter. See the Canna cultivar gallery for photographs of Canna cultivars.

<i>Deutzia</i> Genus of flowering plants

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daylily</span> Genus of flowering plants

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<i>Fuchsia</i> Genus of plants

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<i>Ceanothus</i> Genus of flowering plants

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<i>Bergenia</i> Genus of flowering plants in the family Saxifragaceae

Bergenia is a genus of ten species of flowering plants in the family Saxifragaceae, native to central Asia, from Afghanistan to China and the Himalayan region.

<i>Alocasia</i> Genus of flowering plant

Alocasia is a genus of rhizomatous or tuberous, broad-leaved, perennial, flowering plants from the family Araceae. There are about 90 accepted species native to tropical and subtropical Asia and eastern Australia. Around the world, many growers widely cultivate a range of hybrids and cultivars as ornamentals.

<i>Drosera peltata</i> Species of plant

Drosera peltata, commonly called the shield sundew or pale sundew, is a climbing or scrambling perennial tuberous species in the carnivorous plant genus Drosera. Among the tuberous sundews, D. peltata has the largest distribution, which includes eastern and western Australia, New Zealand, India, and most of Southeast Asia including the Philippines. The specific epithet is Latin for "shield shaped", a reference to the shape of the cauline leaves. It is either a single extremely variable species, or a complex of several closely related species of uncertain taxonomic boundaries. In Australia at least four forms have had or still have specific taxonomic recognition: Drosera peltata subsp. peltata, D. peltata subsp. auriculata, D. foliosa and D. gracilis.

<i>Astilbe</i> Genus of flowering plants in the family Saxifragaceae

Astilbe is a genus of 18 species of rhizomatous flowering plants within the family Saxifragaceae, native to mountain ravines and woodlands in Asia and North America. Some species are known by the common names false goat's beard and false spirea.

<i>Fuchsia magellanica</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Campanula glomerata</i> Species of plant

Campanula glomerata, known by the common names clustered bellflower or Dane's blood, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Campanula, belonging to the family Campanulaceae. It is the county flower of Rutland, England.

<i>Begonia grandis</i> Species of flowering plant

Begonia grandis, the hardy begonia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae. This herbaceous perennial has alternate, simple leaves on arching stems. The flowers are pink or white, borne in dichotomously branching cymes from late summer through fall in USDA U.S. Hardiness Zone 7. As the common name "hardy begonia" implies, it is winter hardy in some temperate regions.

<i>Begonia sutherlandii</i> Species of flowering plant

Begonia sutherlandii, known as the Sutherland begonia and as iwozya in Kimalila, Tanzania, is a tuberous flowering perennial plant in the family Begoniaceae, growing to 0.5 metres (20 in) with fleshy pink stems from 10 to 80 centimetres long. Leaves are commonly dark green and veined with red and covered with short hairs on the underside. They are asymmetrical in shape and the margin is toothed. Flowers, produced in pendent panicles throughout summer, are 20–26 millimetres (0.8–1.0 in) in diameter, and are usually orange or orange–red with yellow anthers.

<i>Dactylorhiza foliosa</i> Species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae

Dactylorhiza foliosa, the Madeira orchid or leafy orchid, is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, endemic to the Portuguese Island of Madeira in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. It is a tuberous herbaceous perennial growing to 60 cm (24 in) and producing spikes of intense, magenta-pink flowers in late spring.

<i>Begonia foliosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Begonia foliosa is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, native to Colombia and Venezuela. It is a shrublike begonia growing to 1 metre (3.3 ft), bearing succulent, pendent stems 45 centimetres (18 in) long, thickly clothed with glossy oval green leaves, and producing panicles of small white flowers. The variety commonly cultivated is B. foliosa var. miniata with pink or red flowers. As it does not tolerate temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F), in temperate regions it requires winter protection.

<i>Lithops karasmontana</i> Species of succulent

Lithops karasmontana, is a species of flowering plant in the ice plant family Aizoaceae, native to Namibia and South Africa.

<i>Begonia dregei</i> Species of plant in the genus Begonia

Begonia dregei, the maple leaf begonia or grape-leaf begonia, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Begonia native to the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

<i>Begonia rex</i> Species of plant in the genus Begonia

Begonia rex, the king begonia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae. It is found from Arunachal Pradesh to southeast China, and has been introduced to Bangladesh, Cuba, and Hispaniola. It is a parent to over 500 cultivars in the Begonia Rex Cultorum Group of houseplants. Other parents in the multitude of crosses made during the creation of the Group include Begonia annulata, B. cathayana, B. decora, B. diadema, B. dregei, B. grandis, B. hatacoa, B. palmata, and B. xanthina.

<i>Begonia acetosa</i> Species of plant

Begonia acetosa is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, native to southeastern Brazil. It is used to create new begonia hybrids due to its attractive foliage. Begonia acetosa has been cultivated in the United States since 1946, when Mulford B. Foster introduced the species from forested mountains near Rio de Janeiro. It was first described in 1831 by José Mariano de Conceição Vellozo. The specific epithet acetosa means 'acid' or 'sour', referring to the rhubarb-like taste of its leaves.

References

  1. Frodin (2004).
  2. "Begonia - Welcome".
  3. Moonlight et al. (2018).
  4. The Plant List
  5. "How to care for beautiful Wax Begonia indoors (Easily)". Shiny Plant. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
  6. Perry, Leonard. "Begonia". Perry's Perennial Pages. Archived from the original on 2013-05-02.
  7. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). RHS. March 2020. p. 10. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
  8. "Begonia 'Benitochiba'". RHS. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  9. "Begonia dregei". RHS. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  10. "Begonia foliosa var. miniata". RHS. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  11. "Begonia 'Glowing Embers'". RHS. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  12. "Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana". RHS. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  13. "Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana var. alba". RHS. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  14. "Begonia 'Green Gold'". RHS. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  15. "Begonia listada". RHS. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  16. "Begonia luxurians". RHS. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  17. "Begonia masoniana". RHS. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  18. "Begonia metallica". RHS. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  19. "Begonia solananthera". RHS. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  20. "Begonia soli-mutata". RHS. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  21. "Begonia sutherlandii". RHS. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  22. Laferrière (1990).

Journal articles