Begonia ബിഗോണിയ
Begonia is a genusof plants, comprising of some 1500 species. Most are found on the forrestfloor, growing in the shade of tall trees. They tend to have large leaves tocollect the dim light that filters from the canopy above. Some have evolvedspecial adaptions, such as a reflective layer below the leaves, that reflectthat has passed through the leaf, back up again, effectively doubling thethickness of the leaf.
Tuberous: The tuberous type of begonia is alsovery popular around the world as a bedding plant and also as a greenhouseplant. In some countries such as England it is the main type grown. Thetuberous types are grown for theirflowers although there are a few varietiesand speciess which have interesting leaves and growth. The flower size canrange from small 1/2 inch flowers to the large exhibition types that can haveflowers the size of dinner plates. The flowers range in type from singles tofull doubles and come in every color exept shades of blue. There are evenflowers with different color edges and some are scented. The plant types rangefrom trailing types that are grown in hanging baskets with pendulant flowers tosturdy upright plants. The tuberous types grow from tubers and go dormantduring short days during the fall and winter. They are restarted in the spring.Another related type is the semi-tuberous which don't have a tuber but whichhave form a caudex at the base. This caudex is like a large swollen stem fromwhich many smaller stems grow. Most semi-tuberous have small leaves and smallwhite flowers, but at least a couple are pink. They make almost a naturalbonzai with their swollen base and small stems and leaves.
Family - Begoniaceae
ബിഗോണിയേസിയേ എന്ന കുടുംബത്തില് പെട്ട ഒരു സസ്യമാണിത് 1500 ലേറെ ജാതികള് ഉള്ള ഈ സസ്യം ഏഷ്യ ദക്ഷിണ,അമേരിക്ക , ആഫ്രിക്ക തുടങ്ങിയ സ്ഥലങ്ങളില് കണ്ടുവരുന്നു
ഇതില് കാണുന്ന ചിത്രങ്ങള് കൂടുതലും നൈനിതാല്,ഹിമാലയ, കേരളത്തിലെ മലമ്പ്രദേശങ്ങള് തുടങ്ങിയ സ്ഥലത്തുനിന്നു എടുത്തിട്ടുള്ളവയാണ്
Begonia picta - Himalaya India
A tuberous rooted species growing from rockcrevices and mud ledges. dormant in winter. New growth starts from late springand produces beautifully colour leaves. Flowers throughout summer with clustersof showy deep pink flowers. A form with plain green leaves also exists.
Locally known as makkar-kajay.
Habitat: Eastern Himalayas in shaded ledges,along roadsides and among humus filled rock crevices.
Ethnobotany: The succulent petioles are sourand are used locally for making pickle.
Deferent types ofBegonias:
Canes: Cane begoniashave been popular plants for many years and were probably grown by yourGrandmother who called them "Angel Wing" begonias. Many types havebeen created since then and those grown by your Grandmother are probably stillin cultivation. There are several types of canes in varying sizes but they allhave in common tough stems that have a bamboo appearance, which gives them thecane handle. The superba canes generally grow the largest and can have leavesup to about 14 inches long and can grow to 12 feet high. They are usually keptsmaller and more compact than that though. They have leaves that are cut andmost types have silver spots or splashes on them. They have large flowerclusters and some are fragrant. They are most popular in the southern stateswhere they are grown outdoors in frost free areas but can also be grown quitewell indoors or in a greenhouse. Two begonia hybridizers, Irene Nuss and BelvaKusler created many of the first superbas to become popular, and Irene's hybridB.'Irene Nuss' and Belva's B.'Sophie Cecile' are the two most widely circulatedsuperbas of all time. The other most popular type of cane is the type formallycalled "angel wing" begonias. These come in every size from typescommonly grown in baskets to large upright plants but all have the familiarpointed leaf shape that gave them their former common name. This type is stillwidely grown and many new hybrids are created every year. Many have silverspotted/splashed leaves and some have different serrated edges. Most are heavybloomers, some even everbloomers. There are other types which fall somewherebetween the two types mentioned above and there is also the mallet type canes.These are not as widely grown because they are more tender. They have leaves invarious colors, most purple, pink or white. They are spectacular looking.
Shrubs: Shrubs arealso very variable and can range in size from miniatures to giants 12 feettall. Some varieties have leaves up to 24 inches long under perfect conditions.The leaf surface is also variable and some have smooth shiny leaves and othertypes have hairy or felted leaves. This type gets its name from the way itgrows with many shoots coming up from the soil to make a full plant like anyother shrub you would grow. They are very multi-stemmed. Most varieties do notbloom as often or as heavily as the cane type but there are many that are everblooming and are used as bedding plants across the country. The shrub type isgrown mostly for it's ease of growing, interesting leaves, and full growth.Most shrubs have white flowers but there are plenty of pink and red ones also,and many have hairy flowers.
Rhizomatous: Therhizomatous types are grown mostly for their interesting leaves and compactgrowth but they have the added bonus of a massive display of flowers, usuallyin the spring, that cover the whole plant. Most are spring blooming but thereare a few that bloom all year. They range in size from tiny miniature to largeplants like B.'Freddie' that can have 3 foot leaves under optimum conditions(one growing outdoors in Hawaii grew that large). The plants can also grow verylarge across but don't reach great heighth, because they grow from rhizomesthat creep along the ground, which gives this type its name. The rhizomatoustypes are popular all across the country and one in particular B.'Erythrophylla'was probably grown by your Grandmother, who called it a beef steak begoniabecause of it's large round leaves. (I know I've said grown by your Grandmotherseveral times but I don't want to give you the impression that begonias areonly grown by grandmothers, I only want to reaquaint you with past memories andgive you an idea of how long begonias have been around) Some types ofrhizomatous have intricate patterns on their leaves in almost any earthtonecolor, some are hairy leaved, some are round and shiny, and some are starshaped. There is really no end to the variety of leaf shape, color and texturein this type of begonia, there is something for every taste.
Semperflorens: Thistype of begonia is probably the most widely grown begonia and in some parts ofthe country is called "wax type" because of the waxy look to theleaves. These begonias are grown mostly as bedding plants and annuals but arereally a perennial shrub type of begonia in areas that don't freeze. All haverounded leaves and are ever-blooming and the flowers come in every shade ofred, pink and white. The leaves come mostly in two colors, green and bronze,but there are variegated types such as B. `Charm' and calla types with newleaves that come out white. The flowers come in single and double types. Someof the species semperflorens have felted white or brown leaves.
Tuberous: Thetuberous type of begonia is also very popular around the world as a beddingplant and also as a greenhouse plant. In some countries such as England it isthe main type grown. The tuberous types are grown for theirflowers althoughthere are a few varieties and speciess which have interesting leaves andgrowth. The flower size can range from small 1/2 inch flowers to the largeexhibition types that can have flowers the size of dinner plates. The flowersrange in type from singles to full doubles and come in every color exept shadesof blue. There are even flowers with different color edges and some arescented. The plant types range from trailing types that are grown in hangingbaskets with pendulant flowers to sturdy upright plants. The tuberous typesgrow from tubers and go dormant during short days during the fall and winter.They are restarted in the spring. Another related type is the semi-tuberous whichdon't have a tuber but which have form a caudex at the base. This caudex islike a large swollen stem from which many smaller stems grow. Mostsemi-tuberous have small leaves and small white flowers, but at least a coupleare pink. They make almost a natural bonzai with their swollen base and smallstems and leaves.
Rex Cultorum: Rexbegonias are the showboats of the begonia world and are a type of rhizomatousbegonia that are grown for their multicolored leaves. Their leaves come inevery color, pattern and shade, and every size and shape. All Rex Culturumtypes are descended from the Indian speciess B. rex that was crossed with othertyes of rhizomatous begonias. Rex begonias do bloom but are not grown for theirblooms which pale in comparison to their spectacular leaves.
Trailing/Scandent:The trailing type of begonias are grown mostly for their trailing habit but puton a spectacular show of flowers, usually in the spring. Some of the newervarieties have a longer blooming period or are everblooming. Most have glossyleaves and look like a philodendron, but there are types that get large leavesand will climb. In their native habitat these types will climb up the trunks oftrees. Most of the trailing types have white or pink flowers. Scandent refersto begonias that climb and use roots to attach to trees, rocks, steep banks,and walls.
Thick-stemmed: Thethick-stemmed types are not as widely grown but come in various forms. Thecommon factor between them is their very thick stems. Most thick-stemmed typesdon't branch much but send up new growth from the base. They also show off thethick stems because they drop their lower leaves and usually only have leaveson the tips. These can be very attractive and are definitely unusual if you'relooking for something different to grow. One thick-stemmed B. valida even has cream variegation during the warmmonths of the year.
