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Anybody recognize this plant?
Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 11:42 pm
by Shane
I've killed my fair share of weeds, but sometimes something interesting pops up and I let it grow. I've let this one grow with my Aechmea 'del mar' for a while and though it looks familiar I can't quite place what it is. A begonia maybe? Or something else?
Re: Anybody recognize this plant?
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2019 3:13 am
by bbarv
Yes, it’s begonia. Hard to tell which one. Do you have/had any begonias in a hanging basket near? Those seed easily.
Re: Anybody recognize this plant?
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2019 4:04 am
by Shane
I actually don't have any (other) begonias. I bought the bromeliad in April, from a forgotten corner in my local nursery. I think it must have picked up the seed there. Based on its size and the bromeliad lifecycle, I'd guess it was there for about a year. So plenty of time to pick a stray seed
Re: Anybody recognize this plant?
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2019 4:05 am
by Shane
I had wanted some begonias though so this works out really well
Re: Anybody recognize this plant?
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2020 9:46 am
by DaveW
The only thing I know about identifying the Begonia family is they have asymmetric or lopsided leaves where the lobe on one side of the leaf is larger than the one on the other side (asymmetric definition: with two halves, sides, or parts that are not exactly the same in shape and size).,
Decades ago our British Cactus Society had a millionaire President called Maurice Mason, who in addition to cacti and orchids had a large greenhouse full of species Begonias, many of which he had collected in habitat and it was amazing just what a range of variation there was from fairly small plants to almost large shrubby ones, most of which we never see commercially. We only usually see a couple of species or often their hybrids for sale in nurseries, rather than the full variation in the genus:-
https://www.succulent-plant.com/familie ... aceae.html
In fact he had one he had collected in China named after him Begonia masoniana, usually called "the Iron Cross Begonia" for the dark cross on it's leaves similar to the German medal of that name.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/2026/Bego ... na/Details
He did propagate some plants described in the past he re-collected into cultivation, including the unusual leafy Stapeliad, Frerea indica which he had collected in the wild and introduced to UK succulent collections when he was President.
http://llifle.com/Encyclopedia/SUCCULEN ... rea_indica
https://columbuscactusclub.com/frerea-indica.html
Re: Anybody recognize this plant?
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2020 10:17 am
by Shane
DaveW wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2020 9:46 am
The only thing I know about identifying the Begonia family is they have asymmetric or lopsided leaves where the lobe on one side of the leaf is larger than the one on the other side (asymmetric definition: with two halves, sides, or parts that are not exactly the same in shape and size).,
Decades ago our British Cactus Society had a millionaire President called Maurice Mason, who in addition to cacti and orchids had a large greenhouse full of species Begonias, many of which he had collected in habitat and it was amazing just what a range of variation there was from fairly small plants to almost large shrubby ones, most of which we never see commercially. We only usually see a couple of species or often their hybrids for sale in nurseries, rather than the full variation in the genus:-
https://www.succulent-plant.com/familie ... aceae.html
In fact he had one he had collected in China named after him Begonia masoniana, usually called "the Iron Cross Begonia" for the dark cross on it's leaves similar to the German medal of that name.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/2026/Bego ... na/Details
He did propagate some plants described in the past he re-collected into cultivation, including the unusual leafy Stapeliad, Frerea indica which he had collected in the wild and introduced to UK succulent collections when he was President.
http://llifle.com/Encyclopedia/SUCCULEN ... rea_indica
https://columbuscactusclub.com/frerea-indica.html
Wow thanks for all the info Dave. I always enjoy your posts and the anecdotes and links they contain. And I definitely learn a lot too, which is most of the reason I'm here
Also, some blooms opened on the Begonia this week. I'll post a picture if I remember
Re: Anybody recognize this plant?
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2020 12:54 pm
by greenknight
I think that's what's known as a Beefsteak Begonia (Begonia erythrophylla). Very old variety that's rarely offered for sale anymore.
Re: Anybody recognize this plant?
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2020 10:07 pm
by Shane
Here's a picture of the Begonia in flower. Thanks for the ID greenknight