30)+Tuberous+Begonia

=Tuberous Begonia=

//Begonia// Begoniaceae media type="file" key="Begonia.mp3"


 * [[image:tuberous_begonia_mixture__01745.jpg caption="Tuberous Begonia"]] || [[image:Begonia-Rex-leaf-1-AJHD.jpg width="253" height="237" caption="Leaf of Begonia depicting the red streak down the middle of the leaf."]] ||
 * [[image:begoniastem.JPG width="242" height="281" caption="Stem from the da Vinci Begonia plant. "]] || [[image:6191317-lg.jpg width="253" height="282" caption="Stamen from a Begonia flower."]] ||

Classification:
Angiosperm/Monoecious

Family characteristics:
Family characteris of the Tuberous Begonia are no different except that they grow from a tuber. The flowers range in color from white, pink, scarlet, yellow, cream, crimson, red, and orange. Flowers range in different styles from singles, doubles, daffodil flowered, single frilled, and camellia flowered. It varies, but more commonly females have three petals and males have two. The leaves are large, variegated, asymetrical and have a red band that runs through the middle. Typically the plants have 4-5 sepal, and three fused carpels.

These begonias grow from tubers, or bulbs, which seperates the species from the rest of the Begonia species because of they're root systems.

Size:
12 inches - 24 inces

Identifying features:
At da Vinci high school the begonias are located along the planters by the teachers parking lot in the back. They have big green leaves witha red stripe through the middle and there is one leaf per stem. They have red, pink and fuschia flowers that grow on stems above the rest of the plant in clusters, usually the top flowers bloom first. The stems on the lower part of the plant near the dirt are darker green or red/brown. However, closer to the leaves or the flowers they are lighter green. The sepals are not fused to the petals however they cover most of the flower while it is still a bud.

These begonias share their ecosystme with Agapanthas, Iris, Lavandar and Calalilys

The begonias planted around the front of the school and the teachers parking lot are red, pink, and fuschia colored and are bright and stand out even in the winter time. Because most of the other plants that are currently blooming are purple, or white they catch your eye first.Their leaves have a dark red striple that runs through the middle. The actual plants do not drop many leaves or spread seeds around their area and they only take up about a square foot of space. Begonias are susceptible to frost, mealybugs, and aphids.

Location/Habitat:
Begonias originated in South America and can be found growing in cool moist climates; however species such as the Tuberous Begonia have adapted to go in a drier climate. According to PlantFiles.com, Begonias require hardiness zones USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F), USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F), USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F).

Water/Sun Requirements:
Begonias thrive best in bright light; however they require indirect sunlight as their main light source. This bright, indirect light is said to bring out the brightest coloring in the leaves of certain Begonias. However, Begonias also do well in partial to full shade. . They grow best in rich, aerated soil with a pH balance from 6.1 to 7.5.

Reproduction:
Tuberous Begonias are interesting species because they reproduce asexually through tubers. Each plant begins from a tuber, which is a bulb or underground stem, and from there grow up into their leaves stems and flowers. Once the plant has matured, underground it grows another tuber and starts another plant.

The prime conditions for planting these Begonias require moist soil, with varied sunlight. Plant the bulbs in late winter or early spring, Tuberous Begonias planted at the right time will begin to bloom by June. Those planted in late March or early April will begin to bloom in July. It is best to start the bulbs in a smaller pot. The roots begin from the sides or bottoms of the bulb, and within a month will be about 1”. Once you notice roots and stems of this length it is time to move them to a larger pot, or to the ground.

Begonia plants are monoecious, meaning they contain both the male and female parts in order to reproduce asexually.

Additional Information:
"The genus was named in honor of Michel Bégon (1638-1710), a French amateur botanist who collected begonias from Santo Domingo while stationed he was there with the French navy. Tuberous begonias were discovered by Richard Pearce, an Englishman, in 1864. " ([])

Sources:
(leaf picture: []) (yellow flower: []) (stamen flower: []) (petal facts: []) (hardiness zones: []) (random facts: [])

Created by: Lucy Winterhalder