The works family Begoniaceae is a large family of over 1,000 mintage of begonias . It also includes at least 10,000 cultivated variety . identify begonia ’s alone by their leaves can be a tricky process , but in compounding with identifying the root organization and maturate conditions you could specify your hunt . The good news is that because the leaves can be so diverse in appearance , you may be capable to match them to photos in a plant identification template .

Leaves

Begonia leave can come in a miscellanea of intriguing colors and patterns . The wax begonia is aptly named for itswaxy leaves . Wax begonia leaves can be bronze , cerise or green , but they always grow in an alternate pattern . They are also broad and serrate ( also called serrate ) on the margins . Angel wing begonia on the other paw have long farewell shaped like retinal cone and have fine hair on their margins . The beef - steak begonia has many leaf colors that can be identified by the hairs on the leaves and the lush nature of the stem . Rex begonia are more often mature for their leaf rather than their flowers , which can be hide by the big leave . king leaves have intriguing colors and patterns on them .

Root Systems

Begonias can be either sinewy rooted , rhizomateous or tuberous rooted . The bitch steak begonia is an model of a rhizomateous root organisation . Rhizomateous roots farm horizontally underground , producing stems and source from nodes . If your plant has both a rhizomateous root organization , a succulent - like stem and haired leaves , you likely have a beef steak begonia . Fibrous - rooted begonias include the popular wax begonia . Combined with theirwaxy leavesyou can use the fibrous nature of the root system to discover your flora . Tuberous - rooted begonia are key by their Tuber , which produce underground and store food and energy for the plant . A democratic diversity is begonia tuberhybridia , which has serrated leaf margins .

Growing Conditions

begonia prefer fly-by-night , moist and humid spring up conditions . They are well grown outdoors in southeastern states , such as Florida . However , hybridization has also develop cultivar that can be develop in more temperate climate . Begonias are often also grown indoors , year around . As a part of your identification process take down the growing stipulation of your unknown plant . Coupled with recognition of the theme organization and the color and pattern on the folio you may be able to determine that your plant is probable a begonia , even if you do not yet bed the specific mintage .

Flowers

Much like the leaves , begonia flowers come in wide variety of rise use and colors . Flowers can be exclusive or threefold , rise on tall stalks or snug to the foliage . In some cases , such as with many Rex begonias , the leaves may in fact conceal many of the flowers . Colors of flowers can range from white to pink to red to sensationalistic . However , combining foliage characteristics with flower color and physique will help you identify your specific metal money of begonia .

Considerations

Mostly probable you will require to compare the leafage of your begonia to a pic in an recognition leger . Both " Begonias : Cultivation , recognition and Natural History " by Mark Tebbitt and " Begonias " by Mike Stevens are just recognition books .

References

…