The Cucurbitales are an order of flowering plants, included in the rosid group of dicotyledons. This order mostly belongs to tropical areas, with limited presence in subtropical and temperate regions. The order includes shrubs and trees, together with many herbs and climbers. One major characteristic of the Cucurbitales is the presence of unisexual flowers, mostly pentacyclic, with thick pointed petals. The pollination is usually performed by insects, but wind pollination is also present.
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.
Begoniaceae is a family of flowering plants with two genera and about 2040 species occurring in the subtropics and tropics of both the New World and Old World. All but one of the species are in the genus Begonia. There have been many recent discoveries of species in the genus Begonia, such as Begonia truncatifolia which is endemic to San Vincente, Palawan. B. truncatifolia is smaller in size than other species of the genus Begonia and this new species is proposed Critically Endangered by standards set by the IUCN. The only other genus in the family, Hillebrandia, is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and has a single species. Phylogenetic work supports Hillebrandia as the sister taxon to the rest of the family. The genus Symbegonia was reduced to a section of Begonia in 2003, as molecular phylogenies had shown it to be derived from within that genus. Members of the genus Begonia are well-known and popular houseplants.
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.
Begonia palmata is a species of plant in the genus Begonia of the family Begoniaceae. It is a small herb of height 20–90 cm tall. It is found in moist places, next to streams or under the shade. It is found in many parts of Asia, including eastern Himalayas.
Begonia cucullata, also known as clubbed begonia, is a species of the Begoniaceae that is native to South American countries of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. A common garden plant and part of the section Begonia, it was described in 1805 by Carl Ludwig Willdenow (1765–1812). The specific epithet "cucullata" means "resembling a hood" or "hooded".
Begonia elnidoensis is an endemic species of Begonia discovered in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines. The species was compared to Begonia wadei, in that both species have thick-trunked stem, differing in the widely to very widely ovate or subtriangular leaves, with the latter having obliquely ovate leaves, 3-4 secondary leaf veins where the latter has 6 on each side of the midrib, with glabrous petioles compared to latter having puberulous to tomentose, an inflorescence measuring 20–40 cm in length compared to only 6–20 cm, and the differently-sized bracts and capsules.
Begonia gironellae is an endemic species of Begonia discovered in Tanabag, Puerto Princesa, in northern Palawan, Philippines. The species resembled Begonia cleopatrae, in that both species have widely ovate, variegated leaves, and fleshy hairs fused into a ring at the base of the leaf petiole. However, Begonia gironellae differed from B. cleopatrae due to its rosette habit with rhizome shorter to 5 cm long, with very congested internodes, widely triangular stipules, differently-sized lamina and bracts, and capsule with wider abaxial wing. Additionally, B. gironellae is a lowland species occurring in broadleaved seaside forests, while B. cleopatrae grows on hill forest at ca. 400m.
Begonia tabonensis is an endemic species of Begonia discovered in Tabon Cave, Lipuun Point, Municipality of Quezo, in Palawan, Philippines. This species resembles B. mindorensis Merr., widely ovate and uniformly green leaves, and inflorescence with sessile glands. However the two species differs on several characteristics: Begonia tabonensis have shorter petioles(10 cm long), smaller leaves(4-8 x 4–6.4 cm); deciduous, chartaceous, glabrous or very sparsely glandular bracts; and slightly pointed, crescent-shaped ovary wing; whereas, B. mindorensis have longer petioles(25 cm long), larger leaves(10-15 x 6-10 cm); persistent, coriaceous, densely glandular bracts; and acute, triangular ovary wing.
Begonia adamsensis is an endemic species of Begonia discovered in Adams, Ilocos Norte province, Luzon, Philippines occurring at an altitude of 308 m above sea level. The species broad-based leaves that are peltate, with a glabrous peduncle, an acuminate tip and nearly entire margin, resembled that of Begonia hernandioides. However, there are differences, in that B. hernandioides had red-colored stipule that is broadly ovate, the petiole and abaxial lamina is pubescent, and the peltate leaves are elliptic.
Begonia ferox is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae. Begonia ferox has been documented in Guangxi Zhuangzu growing on limestone outcroppings of the forest floor. It has a creeping growth habit, with leaves up to 19 cm long and 13 cm wide. When the leaves reach maturity, blackish-brown and hairy bullae with red tips emerge, up to 1.3 cm tall and .6 cm wide. It flowers from January through May, producing fruit April through July. Carpellate flowers are pinkish white, while staminate flowers are pinkish yellow, and the fruit is reddish-green.
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.
Begonia amphioxus is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, section Petermannia, native to Sabah state, Malaysia. There it is found growing in light shade on limestone, either at the base of cliffs or on top of outcrops. A shrub reaching 40 cm (16 in), its upright peltate leaves are 5 to 12 cm long, lance-shaped and pointed at both ends. The highly ornamental leaves are olive to mid-green, with red spots and a red border around the margin.
Begonia xanthina is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, native to the eastern Himalayas, Assam, and southwestern Yunnan in China. A rhizomatous geophyte reaching 40 cm (16 in), it is typically found growing near streams on rocky forested hills up to 800 m (2,600 ft) in elevation. It resembles Begonia rex, but with yellow flowers and scattered light green splotches on the leaves.
Begonia fusca is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, native to central and southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. A large rhizomatous species, its leaves can be 67 cm (26 in) long by 54 cm (21 in) wide, mounted on 80 cm (31 in) petioles.
Begonia decandra, the native begonia or corazón de poeta, is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, found only in Puerto Rico. An understory herb, its veins exude red sap when crushed.
Begonia baik is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, native to Borneo. A creeping to sub-erect perennial with maroon to dark green rugose leaves, it is found growing at the base of sandstone cliffs or on earthy slopes.
Begonia noraaunorae is an endemic species of Begonia found in Surigao del Sur, Mindanao Island, Philippines. The species was compared to B. negrosensis Elmer, from which it resembled by its glabrous stems, leaves that are obovately oblong in shape and with sparse hairs, the lamina with glossy surface adaxially and light green abaxially, the staminate flowers having 2 tepals, the pistillate flowers having 5 tepals, and the green ovaries. However, this species differed from B. negrosensis by its larger leaves with scattered light green patches, shorter stems, a much larger, serrated lamina, shape of tepals of staminate flower, and longer ovary with no subtending bracteoles. The species is named after the Filipina actress and National Artist, Nora Aunor. The species is classified under IUCN Red List criteria as Vulnerable.
Begonia taliensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae. It is found from Arunachal Pradesh in India, to Sichuan and Yunnan in China. A deciduous tuberous geophyte reaching 0.5 m (20 in), it is typically found in scrublands and forests at elevations from 1,300 to 2,400 m. Its leaves can be up to 25 cm (10 in) long, with a mix of purplish, green, and silvery green blotches. The flowers are small and pink. It is available from commercial suppliers as a houseplant.
Begonia emeiensis, the Mount Emei begonia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae. It is native to Sichuan, apparently only to the slopes of Mount Emei, one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China. A rhizomatous perennial that resembles Begonia dielsiana, it is usually 0.5 m (20 in) tall, and is typically found growing amongst other scrubby vegetation alongside streams at elevations from 900 to 1,000 m. The flowers are 4 cm (1.6 in) wide, and pale pink. Hardy to −10 °C, it is available from commercial suppliers.
