Biology:Begonia

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Short description: Genus of perennial flowering plants

Begonia
Begonia obliqua00.jpg
Begonia obliqua
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Begoniaceae
Genus: Begonia
L.
Type species
Begonia obliqua
L.
Species
Main page: List of Begonia species
Begonia Distribution Map.svg
Range of the genus Begonia
Synonyms

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.

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 (unequal-sided).

  • Begonia brevirimosa

  • Begonia aconitifolia

  • A flowering begonia

  • Begonia cultivars come in many different colors, such as yellow

  • A begonia leaf

  • A pair of blossoms, male and female

  • A nautilus-leaf form of begonia

  • Begonia

  • Begonia leaf

  • Cracklin Rosie begonia

  • Cracklin Rosie begonia

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
Yellow‑Flowering African Begonia (YFAB)
 

Section Scutobegonia

 
 
 

Section Filicibegonia

 
 

Section Loasibegonia

 
 
 
 
 
 

Section Erminea

 
 
Fleshy‑Fruited African Begonia (FFAB)
 

Section Quadrilobaria pro parte

 
 
 

Section Mezierea

 
 

Nerviplacentaria–Quadrilobaria Clade

 
 
 
Malagasy Begonia (MB)
 
 

Section Tetraphila pro parte

 
 
 

Section Tetraphila pro parte

 
 
 

Section Baccabegonia

 
 

Section Squamibegonia

 
 
 
 
 

Section Tetraphila pro parte

 
 
 
 
 
 
Seasonally Dry Adapted African Begonia 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

 
 
 
 
 
 
Asian Begonia
 
 
Socotran Begonia (SB)

Section Peltaugustia

 
 
 

Section Reichenheimia pro parte

 
 

Section Haagea

 
 
 
 
 
 

Begonia dioica

 
 

Section Reichenheimia pro parte

 
 
Asian Clade C
 

Section Lauchea

 
 
 

Section Parvibegonia + Begonia smithiae

 
 
 

Section Diploclinium pro parte

 
 
 
 

Section Alicida

 
 

Section Diploclinium pro parte

 
 
 
 

Begonia boisiana

 
 
 

Section Diploclinium pro parte

 
 
 

Section Diploclinium pro parte

 
 
 

Section Diploclinium pro parte

 
 
 

Section Diploclinium pro parte

 
 

Section Platycentrum

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Asian Clade D
 

Section Coelocentrum

 
 
 

Begonia peltatifolia

 
 
 

Begonia amphioxus Clade

 
 
 

Section Ridleyella

 
 
 

Section Baryandra

 
 
 

Section Begonia olivacea

 
 
 
 

Section Jackia

 
 

Section Bracteibegonia

 
 
 

Ptermannia–Symbegonia Clade

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seasonally Dry Adapted African Begonia 2 (SDAAB 2)

Section Augustia

 
Neotropical Clade 2
Neotropical Clade 2‑iii
 
 

Begonia bifurcata

 
 
 

Section Eupetalum pro parte

 
 
 

Section Eupetalum pro parte

 
 
 

Section Eupetalum pro 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 2‑i
 

Section Quadriperigonia

 
 
 
 

Section Parietoplacentalia

 
 

Section Urniformia

 
 
 

Section Gireoudia

 
 
 
Neotropical Clade 2‑ii
 
 
 

Section Astrothrix

 
 

Section Solananthera

 
 
 
 

Section Microtuberosa

 
 
 

Section Pereira

 
 

Section Trachelocarpus

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Section Rossmannia

 
 

Section Pilderia

 
 
 
 

Section Ephemera

 
 
 
 

Section Ruizopavonia

 
 

Casparya–Semibegoniella Clade

 
 
 
 

Section Lepsia

 
 
 

Section Doratometra

 
 
 

Section Begonia

 
 
 

Begonia acutifolia Clade

 
 
 

Section Hydristyles

 
 

Section Cyathcnemis

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Species

Main page: Biology:List of Begonia species

Selected species:[4]



Cultivation

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.

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

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:

  • Cane begonia – forms tough, bamboo-like canes
  • shrub-like
  • tuberous
  • rhizomatous
  • semperflorens (wax or fibrous rooted begonias)
  • Rex
  • trailing-scandent
  • thick-stemmed

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]

References

  1. ↑ Frodin (2004).
  2. ↑ "Begonia - Welcome". http://padme.rbge.org.uk/begonia/. 
  3. ↑ Moonlight et al. (2018).
  4. ↑ The Plant List
  5. ↑ "How to care for beautiful Wax Begonia indoors (Easily)" (in en-US). 2020-11-28. https://shinyplant.com/wax-begonias/. 
  6. ↑ Perry, Leonard. "Begonia". http://pss.uvm.edu/pss123/bulbegon.html. 
  7. ↑ "AGM Plants - Ornamental". RHS. March 2020. p. 10. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf. 
  8. ↑ "Begonia 'Benitochiba'". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/137211/Begonia-Benitochiba-(R)/Details. 
  9. ↑ "Begonia dregei". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/112196/Begonia-dregei-(T)/Details. 
  10. ↑ "Begonia foliosa var. miniata". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/2009/Begonia-foliosa-var-miniata/Details. 
  11. ↑ "Begonia 'Glowing Embers'". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/294385/Begonia-Glowing-Embers/Details. 
  12. ↑ "Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/95775/Begonia-grandis-subsp-evansiana/Details. 
  13. ↑ "Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana var. alba". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/63105/Begonia-grandis-Dryand-subsp-evansiana-(Andrews)-Irmsch-var-alba-hort/Details. 
  14. ↑ "Begonia 'Green Gold'". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/88458/Begonia-Green-Gold-(R)/Details. 
  15. ↑ "Begonia listada". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/47849/Begonia-listada/Details. 
  16. ↑ "Begonia luxurians". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/2023/Begonia-luxurians/Details. 
  17. ↑ "Begonia masoniana". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/2026/Begonia-masoniana/Details. 
  18. ↑ "Begonia metallica". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/2029/Begonia-metallica/Details. 
  19. ↑ "Begonia solananthera". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/27744/Begonia-solananthera-A-DC/Details. 
  20. ↑ "Begonia soli-mutata". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/181811/Begonia-soli-mutata/Details. 
  21. ↑ "Begonia sutherlandii". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/2049/Begonia-sutherlandii-(T)/Details. 
  22. ↑ Laferrière (1990).

Journal articles

  • Frodin, David G. (2004). "History and concepts of big plant genera". Taxon 53 (3): 753–776. doi:10.2307/4135449. 
  • Laferrière, Joseph E. (1990). "On the edibility of begonias". Begonian 57: 175. 
  • "Dividing and conquering the fastest-growing genus: Towards a natural sectional classification of the mega-diverse genus Begonia (Begoniaceae)". Taxon 67 (2): 267–323. 2018. doi:10.12705/672.3. 

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q158617 entry



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