Begonia

With 2,002 species, Begonia is one of the largest genera of flowering plants.{{sfnp|Frodin|2004}}{{cite web|url=http://padme.rbge.org.uk/begonia/ |title=Begonia - Welcome}} 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. The plants vary in size from less than a foot to the recently discovered Begonia giganticaulis which can exceed twelve feet (3.6 meters) in height.

File:BegoniaBrevirimosa.jpg|Begonia brevirimosa

File:B. aconitifolia JV 250x242.jpg|Begonia aconitifolia

File:Begonia 1.jpg|A flowering begonia

File:Yellow begonia.jpg|Begonia cultivars come in many different colors, such as yellow

File:Begonia 'Parviflora' Leaf 3000px.jpg|A begonia leaf

File:Begonia blossoms maleandfemale.jpg|A pair of blossoms, male and female

File:Nautilus leaf begonia Surreybrooke farm 2012-07-1.jpg|A nautilus-leaf form of begonia

File:Begonia 0.jpg|Begonia

File:Begonia leaf.jpg|Begonia leaf

File:Cracklin Rosie begonia 02.jpg|Cracklin Rosie begonia

File:Cracklin Rosie begonia 03.jpg|Cracklin Rosie begonia

File:鐵十字秋海棠 - 溪頭自然教育園區 Begonia masoniana - Xitou Nature Education Area, Taiwan 20220309210209 01.jpg|Leaf of Begonia masoniana

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).

The following phylogenetic tree shows the relationships among sections of the genus Begonia.{{sfnp|Moonlight|Ardi|Padilla|Chung|2018}}

{{Clade | style=font-size:75%;line-height:75%

|1={{clade

|1=Hillebrandia

|label2=Begonia

|2={{clade

|label1=Yellow-Flowering AfricanBegonia (YFAB)

|1={{clade

|1=Section Scutobegonia

|2={{clade

|1=Section Filicibegonia

|2=Section Loasibegonia

}}

}}

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|1=Section Erminea

|2={{clade

|label1=Fleshy-Fruited AfricanBegonia (FFAB)

|1={{clade

|1=Section Quadrilobaria pro parte

|2={{clade

|1=Section Mezierea

|2=Nerviplacentaria–Quadrilobaria Clade

}}

}}

|label2=MalagasyBegonia (MB)

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|1=Section Tetraphila pro parte

|2={{clade

|1=Section Tetraphila pro parte

|2={{clade

|1=Section Baccabegonia

|2=Section Squamibegonia

}}

}}

}}

|2=Section Tetraphila pro parte

}}

}}

}}

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|label1=Seasonally Dry Adapted AfricanBegonia 1 (SDAAB 1)

|1={{clade

|1=Section Sexalaria

|2=Section Rostrobegonia

}}

|label2=Neotropical Clade 1

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|1=Section Gaerdtia

|2=Section Latistigma

}}

|2={{clade

|1=Section Tetrachia

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|1={{clade

|1=Section Kollmannia

|2=Begonia acetosa Clade

}}

|2={{clade

|1=Section Donaldia

|2={{clade

|1=Section Stellandrae

|2=Wagneria Clade

}}

}}

}}

|2=Core Pritzelia Clade

}}

}}

}}

}}

|2={{clade

|label1=AsianBegonia

|1={{clade

|1={{clade

|1={{clade

|label1=SocotranBegonia (SB)

|1=Section Peltaugustia

|2={{clade

|1=Section Reichenheimia pro parte

|2=Section Haagea

}}

}}

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|1=Begonia dioica

|2=Section Reichenheimia pro parte

}}

|label2=Asian Clade C

|2={{clade

|1=Section Lauchea

|2={{clade

|1=Section Parvibegonia + Begonia smithiae

|2={{clade

|1=Section Diploclinium pro parte

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|1=Section Alicida

|2=Section Diploclinium pro parte

}}

|2={{clade

|1=Begonia boisiana

|2={{clade

|1=Section Diploclinium pro parte

|2={{clade

|1=Section Diploclinium pro parte

|2={{clade

|1=Section Diploclinium pro parte

|2={{clade

|1=Section Diploclinium pro parte

|2=Section Platycentrum

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

|label2=Asian Clade D

|2={{clade

|1=Section Coelocentrum

|2={{clade

|1=Begonia peltatifolia

|2={{clade

|1=Begonia amphioxus Clade

|2={{clade

|1=Section Ridleyella

|2={{clade

|1=Section Baryandra

|2={{clade

|1=Section Begonia olivacea

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|1=Section Jackia

|2=Section Bracteibegonia

}}

|2=Ptermannia–Symbegonia Clade

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

|2={{clade

|label1=Seasonally Dry Adapted AfricanBegonia 2 (SDAAB 2)

|1=Section Augustia

|label2=Neotropical Clade 2

|2={{clade

|label1=Neotropical Clade 2-iii

|1={{clade

|1={{clade

|1=Begonia bifurcata

|2={{clade

|1=Section Eupetalum pro parte

|2={{clade

|1=Section Eupetalum pro parte

|2={{clade

|1=Section Eupetalum pro parte

|2={{clade

|1=Begonia cremnophila Clade

|2=Section Knesebeckia I + Section Barya

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

|2={{clade

|1=Section Australes

|2={{clade

|1=Section Knesebeckia III pro parte

|2={{clade

|1=Begonia froebelii

|2={{clade

|1=Section Knesebeckia III pro parte

|2={{clade

|1=Begonia lutea

|2={{clade

|1=Section Knesebeckia II

|2=Section Gobenia

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

|2={{clade

|label1=Neotropical Clade 2-i

|1={{clade

|1=Section Quadriperigonia

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|1=Section Parietoplacentalia

|2=Section Urniformia

}}

|2=Section Gireoudia

}}

}}

|label2=Neotropical Clade 2-ii

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|1={{clade

|1=Section Astrothrix

|2=Section Solananthera

}}

|2={{clade

|1=Section Microtuberosa

|2={{clade

|1=Section Pereira

|2=Section Trachelocarpus

}}

}}

}}

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|1=Section Rossmannia

|2=Section Pilderia

}}

|2={{clade

|1=Section Ephemera

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|1=Section Ruizopavonia

|2=Casparya–Semibegoniella Clade

}}

|2={{clade

|1=Section Lepsia

|2={{clade

|1=Section Doratometra

|2={{clade

|1=Section Begonia

|2={{clade

|1=Begonia acutifolia Clade

|2={{clade

|1=Section Hydristyles

|2=Section Cyathcnemis

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

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}}

}}

}}

}}

}}

{{main|List of Begonia species}}

Selected species:[http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=Begonia+ The Plant List]

{{Div col|colwidth=13em}}

• Begonia coccinea
• Begonia cucullata
• Begonia foliosa
• Begonia grandis Dryand.
• Begonia obliqua

{{div col end}}

File:Angel Wing Begonia.JPG (Begonia aconitifolia × B. coccinea)]]

The different groups of begonias have different care 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.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-28|title=How to care for beautiful Wax Begonia indoors (Easily)|url=https://shinyplant.com/wax-begonias/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121231043/https://shinyplant.com/wax-begonias/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=21 January 2021|access-date=2021-02-10|website=Shiny Plant|language=en-US}}

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.

File:Plum Paisley Begonias.JPG

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.{{cite web |url=http://pss.uvm.edu/pss123/bulbegon.html|title=Begonia|first=Leonard|last=Perry|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502230741/http://pss.uvm.edu/pss123/bulbegon.html|archive-date=2013-05-02|website=Perry's Perennial Pages}} 'Non-Stop' refers to a camellia tuberous hybrid that under certain conditions will bloom 'non-stop' all year round.

File:Begonia display.jpg

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 {{En dash}} 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.

The following is a selection from about 70 species, varieties and cultivars which currently hold the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:{{cite web |title=AGM Plants - Ornamental |page=10 |date=March 2020 |publisher=RHS |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf |access-date=1 November 2020}}

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• Begonia 'Benitochiba'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/137211/Begonia-Benitochiba-(R)/Details | title = Begonia 'Benitochiba' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 29 October 2020}}
• Begonia dregei{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/112196/Begonia-dregei-(T)/Details | title = Begonia dregei | publisher = RHS | access-date = 29 October 2020}}
• Begonia foliosa var. miniata{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/2009/Begonia-foliosa-var-miniata/Details | title = Begonia foliosa var. miniata | publisher = RHS | access-date = 29 October 2020}}
• Begonia 'Glowing Embers'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/294385/Begonia-Glowing-Embers/Details | title = Begonia 'Glowing Embers' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 29 October 2020}}
• Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/95775/Begonia-grandis-subsp-evansiana/Details| title = Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana | publisher = RHS | access-date = 29 October 2020}}
• Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana var. alba{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/63105/Begonia-grandis-Dryand-subsp-evansiana-(Andrews)-Irmsch-var-alba-hort/Details | title = Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana var. alba | publisher = RHS | access-date = 29 October 2020}}
• Begonia 'Green Gold'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/88458/Begonia-Green-Gold-(R)/Details | title = Begonia 'Green Gold' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 29 October 2020}}
• Begonia listada{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/47849/Begonia-listada/Details| title = Begonia listada | publisher = RHS | access-date = 29 October 2020}}
• Begonia luxurians{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/2023/Begonia-luxurians/Details | title = Begonia luxurians | publisher = RHS | access-date = 29 October 2020}}
• Begonia masoniana{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/2026/Begonia-masoniana/Details | title = Begonia masoniana | publisher = RHS | access-date = 29 October 2020}}
• Begonia metallica{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/2029/Begonia-metallica/Details | title = Begonia metallica | publisher = RHS | access-date = 29 October 2020}}
• Begonia solananthera{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/27744/Begonia-solananthera-A-DC/Details | title = Begonia solananthera | publisher = RHS | access-date = 29 October 2020}}
• Begonia soli-mutata{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/181811/Begonia-soli-mutata/Details | title = Begonia soli-mutata | publisher = RHS | access-date = 29 October 2020}}
• Begonia sutherlandii{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/2049/Begonia-sutherlandii-(T)/Details| title = Begonia sutherlandii | publisher = RHS | access-date = 29 October 2020}}

{{div col end}}

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.{{sfnp|Laferrière|1990}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite journal |last=Frodin |first=David G. |year=2004 |title=History and concepts of big plant genera |journal=Taxon |volume=53 |issue=3 |pages=753–776 |jstor=4135449 |doi=10.2307/4135449}}
• {{cite journal |last=Laferrière |first=Joseph E. |date=1990 |title=On the edibility of begonias |journal=Begonian |volume=57 |page=175}}
• {{cite journal |vauthors=Moonlight PW, Ardi WH, Padilla LA, Chung K, Fuller D, Girmansyah D, Hollands R, Jara-Muñoz A, Kiew R, Leong W, Liu Y, Mahardika A, Marasinghe LD, O'Connor M, Peng C, Pérez ÁJ, Phutthai T, Pullan M, Rajbhandary S, Reynel C, Rubite RR, Sang J, Scherberich D, Shui Y, Tebbitt MC, Thomas DC, Wilson HP, Zaini NH, Hughes M |year=2018 |title=Dividing and conquering the fastest-growing genus: Towards a natural sectional classification of the mega-diverse genus Begonia (Begoniaceae) |journal=Taxon |volume=67 |issue=2 |pages=267–323 |doi=10.12705/672.3|doi-access=free }}

{{Commons category|Begonia}}

{{Wikispecies|Begonia}}

{{Wikitionary}}

• {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Begonia}}
• [http://www.begonias.org American Begonia Society]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120313000653/http://rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/72752/Tel10Hoo749.pdf W. S. Hoover et al. 2004, Notes on the geography of South-East Asian Begonia and species diversity in montane forests]
• [http://www.bioone.org/bioone/?request=get-abstract&issn=0363-6445&volume=028&issue=04&page=0693 Phylogenetic Relationships of the Afro-Malagasy Members of the Large Genus Begonia Inferred from trnL Intron Sequences]
• [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aspt/sb/2005/00000030/00000003/art00017 A Phylogeny of Begonia Using Nuclear Ribosomal Sequence Data and Morphological Characters]
• [https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:327437-2 Begonia L. Plants of the World Online]
• [https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:327437-2 Accepted species Plants of the World Online]

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Category:Cucurbitales genera

Category:Garden plants