|Rhizomatous Begonia called B' marmaduke
Rhizomatous; The largest number
of species begonias is rhizomatous. These plants have a thickened stem with short
internodes, which usually runs on the soil .surface. Leaves come from the rhizome; rising above it, to form the plant.
These plants usually flower in the winter and early spring, (January through May) with small white or pink flowers hanging
on tall inflorescence that rise in the middle of the plant
Begonias (genus Begonia) are among the largest of the flowering families. There are
over 1500 species known. They are native of sub-tropical and tropical regions such as Central and South America, sub-Saharan
Africa and southeastern Asia.
The Chinese gardens were growing begonia species (B.grandis) as early as 1400 and were
introduced into Japan in 1641. The first
begonia (B.minor) was introduced to Western horticulturists at Kew in England
in1777. Although no records of their arrival into North America are known, evidence shows
many begonias state-side starting in the 1850.
The modern-day love of hybridizing begonias for colorful foliages and pretty blooms
grew from then on, and today there are over 12,000 cultivars of begonias