The difficulties of classifying begonias by species and a description of all its varieties with names and photos

Begonia is perhaps the most common and unpretentious houseplant.

It can be found in absolutely all state institutions, starting from kindergartens, schools, offices and ending with polyclinics and boarding houses, as it has many useful properties and is unpretentious in leaving.

We are used to seeing begonia among indoor plants, but now it is often grown even among garden crops in open ground, resulting in very beautiful landscapes.

What is this indoor flower?

There are about 1000 natural species in the begonia genus, of which more than 2000 hybrids are obtained. Country of origin considered West Africafrom where begonia spread to South America (to Mexico itself), Southeast Asia and Indochina. Accordingly, the tropical and subtropical climate is native to begonia.

According to the scientific classification, there are three centers for the distribution of begonias:

1. Central African
2. Brazilian (Amazon basin).
3. Southeast Asian (Indonesia, Malaysia, Indochina).

The genus begonia is named after the Governor of Haiti, Michel Begon, who lived in 1638-1710. In 1687, Michel Begon, organized an expedition to collect plants on the Antilles in the West Indies (between North and South America). The expedition was accompanied by a friend of the governor - the famous French botanist monk Charles Plumier.

During the expedition, six species of a plant were discovered, named S. Plumier by begonia after his friend and organizer of the expedition, Michel Begon. Begonia came to Russia under Peter I in 1717 from Holland along with other tropical plants. Reinforced selection and hybridization of begonia species began only in the second half of the XIX century, after the discovery of tuberous begonias, large-flowered, in the Andes, Peru and Bolivia in 1864-1866.

The largest number of hybrids bred in Belgium from tuberous begonias. Begonias are annual and perennial, grow like herbs, shrubs or shrubs. Shrubs often with upright stems, occasionally climbing. Shrubs with creeping rhizome or tuber-thickened, come with a tuber. Tuberous begonias, by the way, can be planted in the garden, the rest only indoors.

Leaves of all types of begonia are asymmetric, rounded or with a serrated edge. The color of the leaves is very diverse: from plain (in various shades of green) to 4 color, which combine shades of silver-white, green, burgundy and brown. Flowers in warm colors: white, beige, yellow, orange, red. The sepals of flowers are unequal, brightly colored.

The fruit of the box. Propagated by seeds, cuttings, leaves (fragments), shoots from the accessory buds, division of the tuber.

Varieties

The variety of begonias is so great that until now flower growers have not come to a unified classification system for the species of this colorful genus of plants. Begonias are divided according to the type of stem and roots, according to the decorative properties of leaves and flowers, by the method of growing.

Let's first find out what types of classification of this houseplant are, and then get acquainted with its most popular types and varieties - this is riger, spotted, pink, Santa Cruz, white-painted, belleconia (root species), black prince, kaudeksnaya and many others , and admire their beautiful photos.

All types of classification

The most popular principles for the separation of species are collected for clarity in a table.

Decorative foliage (leaf) species of begonias deserve special attention. They grow mainly in the form of a lush bush, but there are also tree-like ones.

The shape of the leaves is in the form of an asymmetric heart, similar to elephant ears. There are round and carved, twisted into a spiral and with a carved edge. The color of the leaves is one-, two- and three-tone.

Meets with a contrasting border and specks of spray of various colors.

Colorful embossed foliage with serrated or wavy edges. With pronounced veins and spots-splashes of flowers: silver, pink, purple, cream green, burgundy (purple).

What plants are in different groups?

By the appearance and presence of the stem

Let us consider in more detail the classification of begonia species by type and presence of stem:

1. Deciduous group (decorative and deciduous). The stem of the plant is absent, the leaves grow from a creeping rhizome. Window sills, loggias decorate.
   Kinds:
   • royal - rex (how to grow royal begonia at home?);
   • Mason;
   • Metallic
   • brindle (Bauer);
   • coralline;
   • hogweed;
   • collar (cuff);
   • cleopatra;
   • leafy
2. Cluster group. The stalk is densely branched, cranked, resembles bamboo. Indoor types:
   • ever flowering;
   • red;
   • coral
   • fuchsiform.
3. Tuberous group. It has a thick tuberous rhizome from which the stems grow. Planted in the garden in countries with mild and warm climates or kept in open ground only in the summer.
   Kinds:
   • ampelous (about the features of planting and care for ampelic begonia read here, and from this article you will learn about growing and propagating a flower using cuttings and seeds);
   • Bolivian
   • elatior (how to breed and care for elatior begonia?).

By the method of reproduction

The European classification system for the method of reproduction and biological characteristics includes:

1. Kane Begonias and Scrubs. Shrub-like (reed) species with an erect stem.
2. Royal (rex) and rhizome (rhizome). Grassy species with a thick fleshy stem, asymmetric leaves, creeping rhizome.
3. Everlasting. Annual garden view. Wax leaves, small bushes. Read about the features of breeding and growing evergreen begonias here.
4. Tuberous or tuberose. The root is tuberous, from which translucent stems grow.

Reed (Kane begonias) are distinguished by high erect stems with nodular thickenings, which in turn are divided into subspecies:

1. Superba. Dissected or deep-lobed leaves, with silver spots or completely silver. Height up to 3-4.5 m, leaf width up to 35 cm. In countries with a mild climate, planted in gardens.
If grown indoors, regular pruning is necessary to restrain intensive growth and stimulate greater branching.
2. Mallet. Decorative foliage bushes with reed stems and leaves of unusual shape and color.
3. Spotted. Leaves have up to 4 colors on one leaf plate: green, silver, burgundy, brown.
4. Coral. Large bushy plant with elongated ovate leaves with a serrated edge, pointed at the tips. On green with white-silver splashes in the form of spots-splashes.
5. White painted. Against the general background of various shades of green spots, blotches of white and silver.

Varieties with names

Photo

Below are photos of all varieties of varieties of this houseplant - both flowering and decorative deciduous and their names.

Tree-like:

Reed:

Lotus:

Wedge-shaped (Cleopatra):

Speckled (spotted):

Fimbriata pink fringed:

Santa Cruz Sunset:

Kredner (pork ear):

Alfalfa:

White-painted:

Rieger (elator, girlish beauty):

Borias:

Belleconia:

Caudex (tuberose):

Gluard de Lorrain:

Black Prince:

Black Velveteen:

Black Fang:

Black mambo (dark mambo):

Mini Mary Christmass (variegated):

Escargo (Royal Snail):

Mason's (Maltese cross):

Royal (Rex, Napoleon's ear):

Home Care

Begonias come from the hot and humid climate of rainforests. Given this, it is easy to understand the preferences and characteristics of the begonia genus:

1. Shade-loving, prefer diffused light partial shade.
2. Moisture-loving, humidity of air not less than 60%.

   In no case should you spray the leaves, only the air around the plant or moisten special pillows from mosses. Humidifiers are just a salvation for begonia.

   You can also set the pot with begonia on a platform in the middle of the tray, covered with moist expanded clay, water the expanded clay periodically as it dries.

3. Begonia pots are recommended to buy wide and low. The content in pots of this form is very favorable for the root system of the plant, so as not to supercool and flood the roots.
4. Begonia does not tolerate temperature differences and drafts.
5. The average temperature for begonia cultivation is 21-23 ° C in summer, and at rest in winter 15-18 ° C. Subtropical species (begonia diadem, yellow, Chinese) prefer a temperature of 13-18 ° C. Tropical species (imperial, spotted, royal, ringed, metal) need 18-23 ° C.

   When growing on insulated loggias, make sure that the temperature of the earthen coma does not slightly differ from the temperature of the leaves. If the pot is on a cold windowsill, and the leaves are blown by hot air from the batteries, the begonia leaves will dry and the plant will eventually die.

6. The rest period is 6-10 weeks. The fallen leaves are removed from bush species, watering is stopped, the plant is covered with a film and kept at a temperature of 16 ° С. Tuberous begonias growing in the garden are dug up in early October, cut the stem to 3 cm in height, dried for 14 days and stored in a wooden box, covered with sand, the temperature is 5-6 ° C.
7. They prefer light, loose, slightly acidic soils with the content of leafy soil, humus, peat and sand, in the ratio: leaf compost 40%, the rest 20% each.
8. He does not like crowding, it is advisable to maintain distance, focusing on the widest part of the plant.
9. During abundant flowering, it is recommended to tie it to the support, the stem is very fragile.
10. Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers 1 time per month.

Watch a video on caring for this plant.

Together with bright decorative qualities of leaves and flowers begonia is absolutely not demanding room care. Its widespread distribution has become a completely natural fact. Especially popular are garden and ampelous species.

Cache-pots with hanging bright shoots of ampelous species transform arbors and verandas. Bright foliage of decorative and deciduous species and large flowers of beautifully blooming made begonia a favorite of many gardeners.

Watch the video: How to Grow Rex Begonias (May 2024).