Begonia aconitifolia
| Species | aconitifolia |
|---|---|
| Region | South America |
| Country | Brazil |
| Year published | 1940 |
| Date of Origin | NA |
| Plant Type | Cane-like |
| Section | Latistigma |
| Chr 2n |
Species Information
Classification and Distribution
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Habitat
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Characteristics
Begonia aconitfolia is a thick stem cane like Begonia that can grow up 1.5 meters tall. It also grows a caudex at the base of the plant unlike many other cane like species. Leaves palmately lobed, base color mid green. Leaf blade with silvery white markings; markings very faint - dense; appearing as sparse, thin streaks or clustered spots, or covering almost the entire leaf blade with the exception of the vein. Juvenile leaves light green with pale pink - reddish tinge.
Flower Details
Male and female flowers white; male flowers with 2 tepals; female flowers with 5 tepals.
Etymology
The specific epithet 'aconitifolia' - having leaves resembling the Aconitum or the Monkshood/ Wolf's bane plant, a temperate genus.
Comparison to Similar Species
Begonia acontifolia resembles Begonia pachypoda (aka Begonia leathermania) both have similar shaped leaves while also having a caudex and growing habits. Both are part of the section Latistigma.
Superba
Superba hybrids in the context of begonias often incorporate Begonia aconitifolia as one of their parent plants. Originally, superba canes were defined by their parentage, including B. aconitifolia, and were characterized by large, lobed or deeply cleft leaves on robust plants. Over time, many generations of hybrids have been created, resulting in a diverse range of canes with mixed parentage.
Some newer superba hybrids, while having B. aconitifolia in their ancestry, also have other cane types in their genetic background. This has led to variations in the characteristics of these hybrids. To clarify what constitutes a superba, the author suggests a more accurate definition: a cane must have B. aconitifolia, B. sceptrum, or B. leathermaniae in its parentage and exhibit lobed or cleft leaves. This definition may exclude canes with only a small amount of superba ancestry that do not display superba characteristics.
Synonyms
- Begonia faureana Garnier
- Begonia faureana var. argentea Linden
- Begonia faureana var. metallica Rodigas
- Begonia kimusiana C.Chev.
- Begonia sceptrum Rodigas
References
https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/5/7/5709
Photos
External Links
Links to pages related to this species
[[Category:rhizomatous/Cane-like/shrub/Tuberous ]]
