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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Begonia''
| image = B. aconitifolia JV 250x242.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''Begonia aconitifolia''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Cucurbitales]]
| familia = [[Begoniaceae]]
| genus = '''''Begonia'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
About 1500 species; see text
}}
'''Begonia''' is a [[genus]] in the [[flowering plant]] family [[Begoniaceae]]. The only other member of the family Begoniaceae is ''[[Hillebrandia]]'', a genus with a single species in the [[Hawaiian Islands]]. The genus ''Symbegonia'' is now included in ''Begonia''. "Begonia" is the common name as well as the generic name for all members of the genus.
With ca. 1500+ species, ''Begonia'' is one of the ten largest [[angiosperm]] genera. The species are terrestrial (sometimes [[epiphytic]]) [[herb]]s or undershrubs and occur in subtropical and tropical moist climates, in [[South America|South]] and [[Central America]], [[Africa]] and southern [[Asia]]. Terrestrial species in the wild are commonly upright-[[plant stem|stemmed]], [[rhizomatous]], or [[tuberous]]. The plants are [[monoecious]], with unisexual male and female flowers occurring separately on the same plant, the male containing numerous [[stamen]]s, the female having a large inferior [[ovary (plants)|ovary]] and two to four branched or twisted [[Carpel|stigma]]s. In most species the [[fruit]] is a winged [[capsule (fruit)|capsule]] containing numerous minute seeds, although [[baccate]] fruits are also known. The [[leaf|leaves]], which are often large and variously marked or variegated, are usually asymmetric (unequal-sided).
Because of their sometimes showy flowers of white, pink, scarlet or yellow color and often attractively marked leaves, many species and innumerable [[hybrid]]s and [[cultivar]]s are cultivated. The genus is unusual in that species throughout the genus, even those coming from different continents, can frequently be hybridized with each other, and this has led to an enormous number of cultivars. The American Begonia Society classifies begonias into several major groups: cane-like, shrub-like, tuberous, rhizomatous, semperflorens, rex, trailing-scandent, or thick-stemmed. For the most part these groups do not correspond to any formal taxonomic groupings or phylogeny and many species and hybrids have characteristics of more than one group, or fit well into none of them.
The genus name honors [[Michel Bégon]], a French patron of [[botany]].
===Cultivation===
[[Image:Begonia_1.jpg|left|thumb|A flowering begonia]]
The different groups of begonias have different cultural requirements but most species come from tropical regions and therefore they and their hybrids require warm temperatures. Most are forest understory plants and require bright shade; few will tolerate full sun, especially in warmer climates. In general, begonias require a well-drained growing medium that is neither constantly wet nor allowed to dry out completely. Many begonias will grow and flower year-round but tuberous begonias usually have a dormant period, during which the tubers can be stored in a cool and dry place.
[[Image:Yellow_begonia.jpg|right|thumb|Begonia cultivars come in many different colours, such as yellow.]]
Begonias of the semperflorens group are frequently grown as bedding plants outdoors. A recent group of hybrids derived from this group is marketed as "Dragonwing Begonias"; they are much larger both in leaf and in flower. Tuberous begonias are frequently used as container plants. Although most ''Begonia'' species are tropical or subtropical in origin, the Chinese species ''B. grandis'' is hardy to USDA [[hardiness zone]] 6 and is commonly known as the "hardy begonia". Most begonias can be grown outdoors year-round in subtropical or tropical climates, but in temperate climates begonias are grown outdoors as annuals, or as house or greenhouse plants.
[[Image:Begonia 'Parviflora' Leaf 3000px.jpg|left
|thumb|A Begonia leaf]]
Most begonias are easily propagated by division or from stem cuttings. In addition, many can be propagated from leaf cuttings or even sections of leaves, particularly the members of the rhizomatous and rex groups.
The cultivar [[Kimjongilia]] is a floral emblem of [[North Korea]].
==References and external links==
{{commonscat|Begoniaceae}}
*{{1911}}
*[http://www.begonias.org American Begonia Society]
*[http://www.bioone.org/bioone/?request=get-abstract&issn=0363-6445&volume=028&issue=04&page=0693 Phylogenetic Relationships of the Afro-Malagasy Members of the Large Genus ''Begonia'' Inferred from trnL Intron Sequences]
*[http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aspt/sb/2005/00000030/00000003/art00017 A Phylogeny of ''Begonia'' Using Nuclear Ribosomal Sequence Data and Morphological Characters]
*[http://www.springerlink.com/(vylxjw45gax3bqakqnuvoy45)/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer=parent&backto=issue,5,12;journal,29,1501;linkingpublicationresults,1:104878,1 A recircumscription of Begonia based on nuclear ribosomal sequences]
[[Category:Cucurbitales]]
[[Category:Garden plants]]
[[Category:Flowers]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Begonia''
| image = B. aconitifolia JV 250x242.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''Begonia aconitifolia''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Cucurbitales]]
| familia = [[Begoniaceae]]
| genus = '''''Begonia'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
About 1500 species; see text
}}
'''Begonia''' is a [[genus]] in the [[flowering plant]] family [[Begoniaceae]]. The only other member of the family Begoniaceae is ''[[Hillebrandia]]'', a genus with a single species in the [[Hawaiian Islands]]. The genus ''Symbegonia'' is now included in ''Begonia''. "Begonia" is the common name as well as the generic name for all members of the genus.
With ca. 1500+ species, ''Begonia'' is one of the ten largest [[angiosperm]] genera. The species are terrestrial (sometimes [[epiphytic]]) [[herb]]s or undershrubs and occur in subtropical and tropical moist climates, in [[South America|South]] and [[Central America]], [[Africa]] and southern [[Asia]]. Terrestrial species in the wild are commonly upright-[[plant stem|stemmed]], [[rhizomatous]], or [[tuberous]]. The plants are [[monoecious]], with unisexual male and female flowers occurring separately on the same plant, the male containing numerous [[stamen]]s, the female having a large inferior [[ovary (plants)|ovary]] and two to four branched or twisted [[Carpel|stigma]]s. In most species the [[fruit]] is a winged [[capsule (fruit)|capsule]] containing numerous minute seeds, although [[baccate]] fruits are also known. The [[leaf|leaves]], which are often large and variously marked or variegated, are usually asymmetric (unequal-sided).
Because of their sometimes showy flowers of white, pink, scarlet or yellow color and often attractively marked leaves, many species and innumerable [[hybrid]]s and [[cultivar]]s are cultivated. The genus is unusual in that species throughout the genus, even those coming from different continents, can frequently be hybridized with each other, and this has led to an enormous number of cultivars. The American Begonia Society classifies begonias into several major groups: cane-like, shrub-like, tuberous, rhizomatous, semperflorens, rex, trailing-scandent, or thick-stemmed. For the most part these groups do not correspond to any formal taxonomic groupings or phylogeny and many species and hybrids have characteristics of more than one group, or fit well into none of them.
The genus name honors [[Michel Bégon]], a French patron of [[botany]].
===Cultivation===
[[Image:Begonia_1.jpg|left|thumb|A flowering begonia]]
The different groups of begonias have different cultural requirements but most species come from tropical regions and therefore they and their hybrids require warm temperatures. Most are forest understory plants and require bright shade; few will tolerate full sun, especially in warmer climates. In general, begonias require a well-drained growing medium that is neither constantly wet nor allowed to dry out completely. Many begonias will grow and flower year-round but tuberous begonias usually have a dormant period, during which the tubers can be stored in a cool and dry place.
[[Image:Yellow_begonia.jpg|right|thumb|Begonia cultivars come in many different colours, such as yellow.]]
Begonias of the semperflorens group are frequently grown as bedding plants outdoors. A recent group of hybrids derived from this group is marketed as "Dragonwing Begonias"; they are much larger both in leaf and in flower. Tuberous begonias are frequently used as container plants. Although most ''Begonia'' species are tropical or subtropical in origin, the Chinese species ''B. grandis'' is hardy to USDA [[hardiness zone]] 6 and is commonly known as the "hardy begonia". Most begonias can be grown outdoors year-round in subtropical or tropical climates, but in temperate climates begonias are grown outdoors as annuals, or as house or greenhouse plants.
[[Image:Begonia 'Parviflora' Leaf 3000px.jpg|left
|thumb|A Begonia leaf]]
Most begonias are easily propagated by division or from stem cuttings. In addition, many can be propagated from leaf cuttings or even sections of leaves, particularly the members of the rhizomatous and rex groups.
The cultivar [[Kimjongilia]] is a floral emblem of [[North Korea]].
==References and external links==
{{commonscat|Begoniaceae}}
*{{1911}}
*[http://www.begonias.org American Begonia Society]
*[http://www.bioone.org/bioone/?request=get-abstract&issn=0363-6445&volume=028&issue=04&page=0693 Phylogenetic Relationships of the Afro-Malagasy Members of the Large Genus ''Begonia'' Inferred from trnL Intron Sequences]
*[http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aspt/sb/2005/00000030/00000003/art00017 A Phylogeny of ''Begonia'' Using Nuclear Ribosomal Sequence Data and Morphological Characters]
*[http://www.springerlink.com/(vylxjw45gax3bqakqnuvoy45)/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer=parent&backto=issue,5,12;journal,29,1501;linkingpublicationresults,1:104878,1 A recircumscription of Begonia based on nuclear ribosomal sequences]
[[Category:Cucurbitales]]
[[Category:Garden plants]]
[[Category:Flowers]]