Begonia boliviensis
Encyclopedia
Begonia boliviensis is a plant
in the begonia
family, Begoniaceae
, which was introduced to Europe in 1864 by Richard Pearce
who discovered it in the Bolivian Andes
, although the plant had previously been identified by Hugh Weddell
in the same region but not introduced.
Begonia boliviensis is of special historical interest to gardeners, being one of the species used by John Seden
in the production of the first hybrid tuberous begonia raised in England, B. × sedenii.
The plant originates from montane
cloud forest
s on the eastern side of the Andes in Bolivia and Argentina
. It is typically found in rock crevices and slopes near streams, where plant competition is low.
It was exhibited for the first time at the International Horticultural Show in Paris
, in May 1867, when it attracted much attention from both botanists and horticulturists, "more than any other plant then brought to that magnificent exhibition."
The description in Hortus Veitchii reads:
The cultivar
, Begonia boliviensis Bonfire is widely available commercially and can be used in containers, in hanging baskets and as a landscape plant. It has bright-orange, bell-shaped flowers covering the plant from late spring through summer, with serrated foliage accented by a red margin, and reaches two feet tall.
, the foreman at James Veitch & Sons of Chelsea, London
, successfully crossed B. boliviensis and another Andean
species, believed to be B. veitchii
. This was the first hybrid tuberous begonia raised in England. The new hybrid variety was named B. × sedenii after him and was distributed in 1870, having been awarded the Silver Floral Medal by the Royal Horticultural Society
.
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
in the begonia
Begonia
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 more recently was included in Begonia...
family, Begoniaceae
Begoniaceae
Begoniaceae is a family of flowering plants with about 1400 species occurring in the subtropics and tropics of both the New World and Old World. All but one of the species are in the genus Begonia. The only other genus in the family, Hillebrandia, is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and has a single...
, which was introduced to Europe in 1864 by Richard Pearce
Richard Pearce (botanist)
Richard Pearce was a Victorian plant collector, who introduced the tuberous begonia to England, which led to the development of the hybrid begonias grown today.-Early career:Pearce was born at Stoke, Devonport in Devon...
who discovered it in the Bolivian Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
, although the plant had previously been identified by Hugh Weddell
Hugh Algernon Weddell
Hugh Algernon Weddell was a physician and botanist, specialising in South American flora.Weddell was born at Birches House, Painswick near Gloucester, England but was raised in France and educated at the Lycée Henri IV, where he received a medical degree in 1841...
in the same region but not introduced.
Begonia boliviensis is of special historical interest to gardeners, being one of the species used by John Seden
John Seden
John Seden was a famous hybridist and horticulturalist best known for the hybrids he created while in the employment of Veitch nurseries. He was trained in hybridizing by John Dominy in 1861. In 1873 he began hybridizing tuberous begonias which in turn formed the basis from which modern garden...
in the production of the first hybrid tuberous begonia raised in England, B. × sedenii.
The plant originates from montane
Montane
In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...
cloud forest
Cloud forest
A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...
s on the eastern side of the Andes in Bolivia and Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. It is typically found in rock crevices and slopes near streams, where plant competition is low.
It was exhibited for the first time at the International Horticultural Show in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, in May 1867, when it attracted much attention from both botanists and horticulturists, "more than any other plant then brought to that magnificent exhibition."
Description
The stems of Begonia boliviensis spring from a tuberous root-stock, and attain a height of between 12 inches (304.8 mm) and 18 inches (457.2 mm); the flowers, produced in pairs or threes on short stems in the angles of the obliquely lanceolate leaves, are bright orange/pink in colour, composed of four pointed segments.The description in Hortus Veitchii reads:
"A very beautiful plant with drooping scarlet flowers, from Bolivia, sent by Richard Pearce, and of great interest as one of the original species from which the numerous garden varieties, so popular at the present day, have been derived."
The cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
, Begonia boliviensis Bonfire is widely available commercially and can be used in containers, in hanging baskets and as a landscape plant. It has bright-orange, bell-shaped flowers covering the plant from late spring through summer, with serrated foliage accented by a red margin, and reaches two feet tall.
Hybridization
Shortly after the plant's introduction to England, John SedenJohn Seden
John Seden was a famous hybridist and horticulturalist best known for the hybrids he created while in the employment of Veitch nurseries. He was trained in hybridizing by John Dominy in 1861. In 1873 he began hybridizing tuberous begonias which in turn formed the basis from which modern garden...
, the foreman at James Veitch & Sons of Chelsea, London
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, successfully crossed B. boliviensis and another Andean
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
species, believed to be B. veitchii
Begonia veitchii
Begonia veitchii is a plant in the begonia family, Begoniaceae, which was introduced to Europe in 1866 by Richard Pearce who discovered it in the Peruvian Andes near Cusco at an elevation of from and . It was named after Pearce's employers, James Veitch & Sons of Chelsea, London. It can be found...
. This was the first hybrid tuberous begonia raised in England. The new hybrid variety was named B. × sedenii after him and was distributed in 1870, having been awarded the Silver Floral Medal by the Royal Horticultural Society
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
.