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Begonia is a genus in the flowering plant family Begoniaceae and is a perennial. The only other members of the family Begoniaceae are Hillebrandia, a genus with a single species in the Hawaiian Islands, and the genus Symbegonia which was annexed to Begonia in 2003, as molecular phylogenies had shown it to be derived from within that genus. “Begonia” is the common name as well as the generic name for all members of the genus.

Begonia is the world’s sixth largest plant genus, which has recently exceeded 2,000 species since researchers examined historic records and new collections. Coined by Charles Plumier, a French patron of botany, the genus name honours Michel Bégon, a former governor of the French colony of Haiti. It was later adopted by Carl Linnaeus, the father of modern taxonomy who formalised binomial nomenclature. As a member of the order Curcurbitales, begonias are relatively closely related to such food crops as pumpkins/squash, gourds, cucumbers and melons.

Contents 1 Description 1.1 Nomenclature 2 Cultivation 3 Popular Culture 4 Species and Cultivars 4.1 Species 4.2 Cultivars and Cultivar Groups 5 Gallery 6 References and External Links 7 Gallery of Begonia Species

Wikispecies has information related to: Begonia

Description

Estimated to be around 1,800 species, Begonia is the sixth largest angiosperm genus.^[1] 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 containing numerous stamens, the female having 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). Some species are commonly grown indoors as ornamental houseplants in cooler climates. In warmer climates, some species are cultivated outside in summertime for their bright colourful flowers, which have sepals but no petals.

Nomenclature

The nomenclature of begonias can be very complex and confusing. The term Picotee refers to an edging on the petals that is in contrast to the colour of the main petal, if the colours blend. If they do not, then the term Marginata is used, but sometimes these terms are used simultaneously.^[2] Non-Stop refers to a Camellia tuberous hybrid that under certain conditions will bloom ‘non-stop’ all year round.

Many species and innumerable hybrids and cultivars are cultivated for their sometimes showy flowers of white, pink, scarlet or yellow colour and often attractively marked leaves. 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 classifies begonias into eight major groups below. Click any group from the following list to access all posts corresponding to the group:

• cane-like
• shrub-like
• tuberous
• rhizomatous
• semperflorens (or wax 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.

Binomial terms such as Begonia grandiflora, Begonia multiflora and Begonia pendula do not refer to accepted species, but rather varieties of tuberous begonias.^[3]

Cultivation

The different groups of begonias have different cultural requirements but most species come from tropical regions and therefore 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 which the tubers can be stored in a cool and dry place. Begonias of the semperflorens group (or wax begonias) are frequently grown as bedding plants outdoors. 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 those grown in temperate climates are treated as annuals, or as house or greenhouse plants.

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

Popular Culture

Kimjongilia is a flower named after the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. It is a hybrid cultivar of tuberous begonia, registered as Begonia × tuberhybrida ‘Kimjongilhwa’. When Kim Jong-il died in December 2011 the flower was used to adorn his corpse for public display. Despite its name, the Kimjongilia is not the official national flower of North Korea, which is the Magnolia sieboldii.

The Grateful Dead wrote the popular song “Scarlet Begonias“. The lyrics were written by Robert Hunter and the music by Jerry Garcia. The live debut of “Scarlet Begonias” came on March 23, 1974 at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California. The song begins in Grosvenor Square in London and also references “Tea for Two” from No, No, Nanette by Irving Caesar and Vincent Youmans. The recording first appears on the 1974 release From the Mars Hotel. When “Fire on the Mountain” was incorporated into the band’s repertoire in 1977, “Scarlet Begonias” would often be paired with it when played live, resulting in what would be nicknamed “Scarlet > Fire”.

A contemporary American artist from San Francisco, Begonia Blossom Herbert is “a painter, photographer, graphic designer, writer and on occasion … playing the drums, singing or strumming the guitar.”

In the 1993 American comedy Mrs Doubtfire, a goat eats a begonia belonging to Miranda Hillard (played by Sally Field) during her son’s birthday party.

Most begonias are sour to the taste, and some people in certain areas eat them. Consuming begonias is safe in small amounts but potentially toxic in large quantities due to the prevalence of oxalic acid in the tissues. Those who are interested in treating begonias as food may read the post entitled “Edible Begonias” to learn more about begonias as edible plants that have been grown around the world both as food and as ornamentals.

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  Begonia acetosa
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  Begonia acida
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  Begonia aconitifolia
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  Begonia × albopicta
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  Begonia annulata
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  Begonia bowerae
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  Begonia brevirimosa
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  Begonia coccinea
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  Begonia cubensis
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  Begonia cucullata
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  Begonia dregei
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  Begonia glabra
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  Begonia goegoensis
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  Begonia grandis
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  Begonia heracleifolia
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  Begonia hirtella
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  Begonia imperialis
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  Begonia jairii
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  Begonia maculata
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  Begonia maculata
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  Begonia masoniana
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  Begonia minor
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  Begonia naumoniensis
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  Begonia obliqua
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  Begonia odorata
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  Begonia oxyanthera
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  Begonia poculifera
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  Begonia pustulata
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  Begonia rajah
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  Begonia rex
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  Begonia rhizocaulis
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  Begonia scharffii
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  Begonia thelmae
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  Begonia ulmifolia
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  Begonia valida
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  Begonia velloziana
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  Begonia venosa
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  Begonia wollnyi
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  Begonia wrightiana
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  Begonia × hiemalis
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  Begonia × ricinifolia
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  Begonia × semperflorens-cultorum
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  Begonia × tuberhybrida
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  Begonia tuberhybrida pendula