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Species

B. obliqua

Photos

5 photos

Identity

Genus
Begonia
Name
B. obliqua
Author
Linnaeus, Sp. Pl.
Publication Date
1753
Place
Martinique
Country
Lesser Antilles
Region
America
Section
Begonia
Chr 2n
52, 56?
Plant Type
Shrub-like
Synonyms and Comments
macrophylla Lamarck. 1785. ; martinicensis A. de Candolle, Ann. Sci. nat., Bot. ser. 4. 11:123. 1859.; nitida Dryander var. pilosula A. de Candolle, Prodr. 15(1):294. 1 864. ; grandifolia; discolor Sprengel, Syst. Veg. 2:625. 1825, quoad pl. Sieber. ; crenata auct. non Linnaeus: Maycock, Fl. Barbad. :357. 1 830.—O.E. Schulz in Urban, Symb. Antil. 7:22. 1911 [= macrophylla Lamarck. 1785, probabiliter apud O.E. Schulz.] —J. Golding, Phytologia 44:246. 1980. ; rotundifolia Grisebach, Fl. Brit. W.I. :304. 1860 non Lamarck. 1785.—O.E. Schulz in Urban, Symb. Antil. 7:18. 1911. —J. Golding, Phytologia 45:246. 1980.; grandiflora J acquin, Coll. 1:128. “1786”. 1787, excl. syn. Brown.; obliqua auct. non Linnaeus: Jacquin, Observ. Bot. 2:11. 1767; Coll. 1:128, “1786,”.1787; suaveolens auct. non Klotzsch: A. de Candolle; suaveolens auct. non Klotzsch: Loddiges; odorata Willdenow; dominicalis Grisebach; domingensis auct. non A. de Candolle: Grisebach
Reference
The botanical cabinet, v. 1, 1817-1833; ; Sp. Pl. 2:1056. 1753 excl. Sloane.—Emend. J. Golding, Phytologia 45:221. 1980.; JGSL9/08
Article References
Tebbitt, Begonias 5:186-88. 2005; Icones plantarum rariorum. Te Haarlem: By C. Plaat,1793. Plate XXIII, Text XXIV http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/132452; Paxton's magazine of botany, v. 4, 1838 (See also v. 3, p. 125)
Photo References
Tebbitt, Begonias pl.150. 2005.

Plant

Description
The botanical cabinet, v. 1, 1817-1833 B. obliqua as SYN. B. suaveolens: This plant is supposed to be a native of the West Indies; we received it about two years since from France. It flowered very prettily in April last. The blossoms have an agreeable smell. It is easily cultivated in a loamy soil, and increased by cuttings. It should be kept in the cooler part of the stove, not being very tender, observing in winter to water it but sparingly, in the summer this, as well as many more stove plants, may be inured to the open air with great advantage.; Description: Caules fruticosi, plerumque plures ex eadem radice, suberecti, succulenti, teretes. Folia alterna, petiolata, oblique & inaequaliter cordata, acuminata, obsolete dentata, glaberrima, carnosa, acetofam sapore referentia. Stipulae carinata, trialata, caducae. Pertinet ad Monoeciam Polyandriam Linnaei. Flores enim masculi a femineis distincti in eadem stirpe reperiuntur. Utrisque generis flores longls infident pedunculis, subarticulatis rubellis in paniculae speciem aggregatis, ac perianthio destituunturr. Flores, masculini tetrapetali, coloris dilute rosei, petalis binis oppositis angustioribus, acutioribus; stamina plurima filamentis brevissimis instructa. Flores feminei minus regulares, petalis 4 vel 5 inaequalibus; germen inferum insignis magnitudinis, triquetrum ac trialatum, ala una reliquis majore; styli tres bifidi. Capsulae apud nos nondum maturuerunt, sed brevi post corollae lapfum tempore, decidunt. Florere solet a fine aestatis ad Decembrem usque. Cultura, In Caldario semper asservanda, facile abscissis & terrae mandatis ramis propagator. (translated from Dutch using Google translate) Jamaica is the Fatherland, perhaps still wild in many locations. A plant for the warm house. From the base, emerge stems, very fleshy, but when they get too long they fall over. The leaves are fused, heart-shaped, large, smooth, glossy green. The leaf leaves (Stipulae), are triangular, with fluted sides, green. Has two flowers, male and female, on the plant, (and belongs to the class of Monoecia in Linn's system.) The flowers float on long peduncles and are pinkish red. The male flower (1) does not have a calyx. There are four petals (tepal and sepal), two broad and two thin, crucifixed over each other, and in their midst a large number of stamens, which makes it part of the Order of the Polyandria inthe aforementioned class. The feminine flowers are not as regular as the male. They also do not have a calyx; but the flower crown was made up of 4 or 5 leaves (2), sometimes irregular, broader. 3 Styli. Stigmata about which is attached to the Germen or Adjacent Seed Cottage (3). This is of a very gracious shape with three winged sides or corners, one of which is much longer than the other. No seed has become ripe with us, but after the pollination, the Flowers fell off. We keep this plant in the stove or hot house. Easy to reproduce by cuttings, in bloom May to December of the year.; Paxton's magazine of botany, v. 4, 1838 (See also v. 3, p. 125) B. obliqua as SYN. B. odorata: A stove Begonia, evergreen, from one and a half to two feet high. Stem rather slender, somewhat branching, erect. Leaves somewhat angular, acuminate, irregularly toothleted, pale green, smooth on each side. Stipules a dry membrane. Flowers pretty and numerous, white. This species has not, to our knowledge, been before figured in any botanical work in this country, neither are we aware that any mention has been made of it in any publication, except Mr. London's Encyclopedia of Plants, where it is described without reference. We saw the plant in full flower, which furnished the sample for our figure, in the Messrs. Youngs' nursery, at Epsom, and were much struck with the handsome appearance it presented: the plant being about two feet high, and crowned with a profusion of white flowers, produced a pleasing and striking contrast with the green foliage beneath. Our figure falls much short of conveying an adequate idea of its merits, the flowers being naturally larger and more numerous, and of a much brighter color; but, perhaps, its greatest merit resides in the fragrance emitted by the flowers, which certainly is not powerful but very pleasant. Of its native country we know nothing certain, but suspect it to be a West Indian species. It thrives in the stove in any light rich soil, and propagates freely from cuttings, planted in sand or sandy mold, and placed under a glass. Its flowering season is April and May.

Lineage

Parents

No parentage recorded.

macrophylla Lamarck. 1785. ; martinicensis A. de Candolle, Ann. Sci. nat., Bot. ser. 4. 11:123. 1859.; nitida Dryander var. pilosula A. de Candolle, Prodr. 15(1):294. 1 864. ; grandifolia; discolor Sprengel, Syst. Veg. 2:625. 1825, quoad pl. Sieber. ; crenata auct. non Linnaeus: Maycock, Fl. Barbad. :357. 1 830.—O.E. Schulz in Urban, Symb. Antil. 7:22. 1911 [= macrophylla Lamarck. 1785, probabiliter apud O.E. Schulz.] —J. Golding, Phytologia 44:246. 1980. ; rotundifolia Grisebach, Fl. Brit. W.I. :304. 1860 non Lamarck. 1785.—O.E. Schulz in Urban, Symb. Antil. 7:18. 1911. —J. Golding, Phytologia 45:246. 1980.; grandiflora J acquin, Coll. 1:128. “1786”. 1787, excl. syn. Brown.; obliqua auct. non Linnaeus: Jacquin, Observ. Bot. 2:11. 1767; Coll. 1:128, “1786,”.1787; suaveolens auct. non Klotzsch: A. de Candolle; suaveolens auct. non Klotzsch: Loddiges; odorata Willdenow; dominicalis Grisebach; domingensis auct. non A. de Candolle: Grisebach

Descendants

No recorded descendants.

Culture

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