Scientific name - Begonia sp.

Name genus Begonia was dedicated Begona Michel (1638-1710), Governor of Antille, by Charles pencil box, which introduced Begonia in Europe.

Synonyms --

Popular names - begonia.

Distribution and Habitat - spread to all regions, from the tropical to warm temperate. There are about 900 species, most of which are perennial, are divided into 3 main groups: tuberous begonias, begonias and root rizomatoase beam.

Description - Plants with succulent stems, leaves and flowers unisexuate asymmetric, long pedunculate, grouped dichaziu terminal. ♂ flowers usually are obsolete, consisting of 4 petals oval, two of which are shorter, the ♀ consist of 4 petals equal, persistent. The fruit is a capsule wingtriangular in section, with many fine seeds.

Requirements - The ideal temperature for most begonias is 13-29 ͦ C. In warm areas, begonias should not be exposed to direct sun light must be filtered or indirect. In northern regions begonias be overshadowed during spring and summer. Light too powerful or too low can cause pale leaves, poor growth and few flowers. Humidity should be 40-60%. If on the leaves become brown, the leaves and flowers of fall is a consequence of moisture insufieciente. If humidity is too high and appear fugicide bacterial diseases. The land that is slightly acidic pH 5.8-6.8, light, well aerated, well drained, and pumice perlitul are necessary to ensure good drainage.

Management - inflorescences wilted cut.

Propagation - tuberose begonias multiply by cuttings or division of tubers, ifthey are large. Cuttings shall be of basal branches since April, their length should be about 7.10 cm. At first made available in a mixture of half peat, half sand. Successively engaging in the transplanting depending on plant growth.

If tuberuculul divide is greater necasar cutting tubers into chunks so that each of them contain at least one healthy bud, after which the plants.

Begonias rizomatoase multiply by rhizome division. Ideal period is April. Control aibe each portion to a good bud.

Begonias are propagated by root cuttings fasciculated from May to August.

Most begonias can inmultii and by seeds. To sterilize the seeds mixed with sand, place in aluminum foil to ͦ 16-21 C for one hour. The seeds need light and moisture to germinate, so it is better to not be covered by plover and the ship to be covered with plastic or glass to increase humidity.

Diseases and pests - nematodes, Pythium sp., Rhizoctonia sp ..

Myth, Legend and Folklore --

The first species planted were those begonia Begonia grandis in China, around 1400 years.

First begonia grown in Europe was a Jamaican species, Begonia minor, which William Brown sent an Kew gardens in 1777.

References

Allan M. Armitage - Armitage's Manual of Annuals, Biennials and Half-Hardy Perennials - Timber Press, 2001

Barbara Damrosch - The Garden Primer - Roda Press, 2003

Mark C. Tebbitt - Begonias: Cultivation, Identification and Natural History & ndash, Timber Press, 2005