Begonia socotrana

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

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Read about Begonia socotrana in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Begonia socotrana, Hook. Fig. 504. A winter-flowering species: st. annual, stout and succulent, forming at the base a number of closely set scales or suppressed Lvs. resembling bulbs: Lvs. dark green, orbicular, peltate, 4-7 in. across, center depressed, margin recurved, crenate: fls. all male except the terminal one of each branch of the cyme, in terminal few-fld. cymes, bright rose G.C. II. 15:8. B.M. 6555. Gn. 21:163; 49:426 (as B. Gloire de Lorraine). J.H. III. 51:317. R.H. 1906, p. 130; 1909, p. 426. A.F. 13:587, 588.—Bulbs or semi-tubers were brought from the hot sandy island of Socotra by I. B. Balfour, and grown at Kew in 1880. The species was first described in Gardeners' Chronicle in 1881, and in the same year in Botanical Magazine. See also Balfour, Botany of Socotra, p. 102, 1888 (Vol. 31, Roy. Soc., Edinburgh ). An early study of the nature of the bulbs by Duchartre will be found in Bull. Soc. Bot. de France, 12 (1885).—This excellent plant requires to be grown in a light position in a stove to develop at its best. The bulbs should be shaken put of the old soil in Sept. or Oct. and potted up in a light soil, rich in humus, and placed in heat and moisture, and, when well established, should be liberally supplied with manure-water. The fls. appear during the winter months, after which the plant dies down, forming a number of large resting buds or bulbs; the pots should then be placed in an intermediate temp, and be kept nearly dry until the following growing period comes round. On account of its habit of producing fls. in winter, this species has been largely used by the hybridist in the production of a race of winter-flowering begonias, of which there are many named varieties. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

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