B. rex

Curtis's botanical magazine, v. 85 = ser. 3, v. 15, 1859 B. rex: This is certainly the loveliest of the many lovely species of Begonia with which we are acquainted, Mr. Linden is stated to have received the plant from Assam; but it is not to be supposed the enormous size of the leaf represented by Mr. Van Houtte is natural to its own country, it is the effect of high cultivation; and what is gained in size is lost in brilliance of color, to judge from the figure. It has flowered with us in the Autumn, and probably by a little management the blossoms could be produced at most seasons of the year. Description: There is no true stem to this plant. The red, terete petioles, furrowed on the anterior side, spring in clusters from a subterranean creeping rhizome, by dividing which the plant is readily increased. Bracts ovate, hair-pointed, strongly ciliated at the lower edge. Leaf about as long as the petiole, in our plants averaging eight to ten inches long, five or six broad, obliquely and inequilaterally ovate, deeply cordate at the base, the lobes overlapping, sparingly villous (as is the petiole), the margin sinuato-dentate, the surface bullate as if from the tightness of the veins. The color a deep-green, with a metallic luster, and towards the margin tinged with purple. The dark green-colored surface is however interrupted by a broad ring, if it may be so called, of a dead silvery-white, which takes the direction of the margin of the leaf, and is continued almost to the apex of the leaf. Peduncle resembling the petiole, but quite terete. Cyme rather few-flowered, twice dichotomous. Flowers large, pale rose-color. Bracts very deciduous. Male flowers two inches across, of four sepals; two cordato-ovate, concave; two smaller, oblong, plane. Anthers yellow, acuminate. Female flowers scarcely more than half the size of the male, of five nearly equal, oblong, spreading sepals. Style short. Stigmas yellow, convolute. Capsule one long projecting, ovato-oblong, obtuse one.; Variable sp. several forms noted by R. Morris 2009.
Variable sp. several forms noted by R. Morris 2009.

• Classification: Species
• Plant Type: Rhizomatous
• Botanical Section: Platycentrum
• Origin: Asia, China, India, Vietnam, Myanmar
• Originator: Putz. ex K.Koch
• Date of Origin: 1857

Cool growing conditions, moist environment