Species
B. xanthina
Photos
5 photos
Identity
- Genus
- Begonia
- Name
- B. xanthina
- Author
- W. J. Hooker, Bot. Mag.
- Publication Date
- 1852
- Place
- Himalaya; Arunachal Pradesh 3000’ - 5000’ (R. Morris 2009); SW Yunnan
- Habitat
- Eastern Himalayas and mountains of north east India and south western Yunnan at 600-1800 m. alt.
- Country
- NE India; China
- Region
- Asia
- Section
- Platycentrum
- Chr 2n
- 22
- Plant Type
- Rhizomatous
- Synonyms and Comments
- Etymology: Greek xanthina (yellow) after the flower colour; B. lazuli Linden, Suppl. Cat. Pl. Exot. :2. 1858, nomen nudum. —W.J. Hooker, Bot. Mag. 85:pl. 5107. 1859.; B. xanthina W.J. Hooker var. lazuli W.J. Hooker, Bot. Mag. 85:pl. 5107. 1859.—C.B. Clarke in J.D. Hooker, Fl. Brit. Ind. 2:644. 1879.; B. picta auct. non J.E. Smith: hort. Jackson ex W.J. Hooker, Bot. Mag. 85:pl. 5107. 1859.; B. xanthina W. J. Hooker var. pictifolia W. J. Hooker, Bot. Mag. 85:pl. 5102. 1859;
- Reference
- Bot. Mag. 78:pl. 4683. 1852.— Ching-I Peng, Wai-Chao Leong & Yu-Min Shui, Bot. Studies 47:89-96, pl. 4 & 5. 2006. — Cuizhi Gu, Ching-I Peng & Nicholas J. Turland, Flora of China 13, Begoniaceae 14:204. 2007.; JGSL9/08; A.B.Graf: Pictorial Cyclopedia of Exotic Plants Hardcover, 1978.
- Article References
- Hughes M. et al., Asian Begonia 349, 2018; Curtis's botanical magazine, v. 85 = ser. 3, v. 15, 1859; Beg 16:122-23. 1949; Begonian March 2014 P28-29
- Photo References
- Hughes M. et al., Asian Begonia 349, 2018; Exotica - Pictorial Encyclopedia of Indoor plants;
Plant
- Description
- Curtis's botanical magazine, v. 78 = ser. 3, v. 8, (1852) B. xanthina: A very beautiful new Begonia, cultivated by Mr. Nuttall in his stove at Rainhill, near Preston, Lincolnshire, where it was raised from roots sent in 1850 from Boutan, by his nephew, Mr. Booth. It is remarkable for the large, full, almost golden yellow flowers, tinged with red at the back, which contrast well with the ample foliage of a deep glossy green above, and with the fine red of the petioles, peduncles (shaggy, with scale-like hairs), and underside of the leaf. It flowered in July 1852. Description: Root a short, thick, horizontal, fleshy rhizome, shaggy with scaly hairs at the setting on of the petioles, and bearing fibrous radicles below. Stem, none. Leaves ample, six inches to a span or longer, obliquely (inequilaterally) cordato-ovate, shortly acuminated, more or less sinuated, the margin denticulated, subciliate, penninerved and reticulately veined. Of a deep full glossy green and glabrous above, beneath red, with the nerves prominent, the chief ones and costa hispid. Petioles thick, fleshy, terete, bright red, about a span long, clustered from the apex of the rhizome, and there having large, ovate, sub-membranaceous, colored stipules; their peduncles are crinite, with shaggy patent hairs, almost scaly and reflexed below. Peduncles twice as long as the petiole, and resembling it, but glabrous above, bearing a many-flowered corymb at the extremity. Flowers deep full yellow, drooping, often springing three from one point, in which case two are male flowers, and one is female. Male flower much the largest, of four spreading sepals, of which three are oblong-obovate, and the fourth rotundate, larger and more concave, tinged with red at the back. Stamens very numerous, forming a compact, globose, yellow head. Female flower small, of six nearly orbicular, concave, erect petals, tinged with red at the back. Fruit greenish, tinged with red, three-winged, two of the wings short and equal, the third is remarkably elongated horizontally, into a sort of broad blunt beak, and striated. Curtis's botanical magazine, v. 85 = ser. 3, v. 15 (1859) B. xanthina var. Lazuli: Mr. Linden, the distinguished horticulturist at Brussels, has great merit in having of late years introduced to our European stoves a series of plants of the genus Begonia, from Assam, of very great beauty, both in respect of flower and foliage; the latter remarkable for its great size and metallic luster, and exhibiting, in these leaves, a considerable variety both in the nature and disposition of spots. TO this group belong the Begonia Rex (see our Tab. 5101), the Begonia amabilis, B. argentea, and Victoria, of Linden, and B. Lazuli of the same author (the plant here figured); all these belong to one and the same group, of which our B. xanthina (Bot. Mag. t. 4683) from Bhotan may be considered the type, if it be not, as I am induced to suppose it was, the common parent of all, assisted as may probably be the case with the Begonia Rex, by a cross with some pink flowered species. Indeed, the Begonia ‘Victoria’ of Linden (as it proves to be, see our Tab. 5102) I had no hesitation in considering as a painted leaf variety of B. xanthina, and I have as little in referring our present plant to that also. But it deserves a place in every ornamental stove as much as if it were a distinct species.; Curtis's botanical magazine, v. 85 = ser. 3, v. 15, 1859 B. xanthina: We received this beautiful leaved plant* from Mr. Jackson, of the Kingston Nursery, under the name of Begonia picta; but assuredly not having any specific connection with the well-known Begonia picta of Sir James E. Smith. Its affinity is with our B. xanthina, above quoted, and at present at least, till I can learn more of its history, I am disposed to consider it a variety of species. It is, indeed, near akin to B. Rex (see our Tab. 5101), especially in the leaves; but that has yellowish-white flower, tinged with rose: all of them have mucronate anthers. I fear nor on the spotting of the leaves. Some of our own young plant of my B. xanthina have the leaves spotted, but the spots are of quite a different character from those of our present plant. It is well known that the beautiful B. argyrostigma (Exotic Flora, tab. 18) became by cultivation spotless, and then lost all its charm with cultivators. *Since the above was printed, we have received No. 14 of Mr. Linden's “Catalogue de Plantes Exotiques” in which, under the head of 'Plantes Exotiques Nouvelles’ he has represented on one plate leaves of three Begonias of Assam, one of which, called Begonia Victoria, is clearly our plant; but no characters are given indicating any specific identity. ; Journal of the New York Botanical Garden. Lancaster, Pa.: Published by the New Era Printing Co. 1900-? v. 39-40 (1938-1939) Page 256-8 http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/98365 Two Begonia Names Clarified: The publication in “Horticulture” for March 1, 1931 of a note by Mary Gibson Henry referring to a Begonia from India identified as B. cathcartii, has led to some confusion in Begonia growing circles. Mrs. Henry says that several years earlier she obtained seed directly from Sikkim, Bengal, India “where it is native”. She mentions that the seed germinated readily and then describes her plant as having “beautifully variegated foliage”. She says “It is a dwarf, compact growing plant with clusters of inch-wide butter-yellow flowers with a very slight scarlet shading externally, these held well above the leaves… the drooping foliage nearly hiding the pan, and the entire height is less than a foot”. Continuing, Mrs. Henry states that her plant “resembles the Rex type of Begonia with rhizomatous stems and a fibrous root system”. She says that she sent some of these Begonias to the Bureau of Plant Industry of the United States Department of Agriculture, for propagation and distribution. Plants received at the New York Botanical Garden in 1935 and 1938 from eastern begonia growers are probably of this stock. In any case, they agree precisely with the description given, and others raised from seed collected by Captain Kingdon Ward in the same Himalayan region have proved to be identical. An examination of the literature quickly shows, however, that the plant in question is not B cathcartii, which differs from our plant in being caulescent, in having solitary flowers which are white to pink in color and are hairy on the outsides of the petals, and in other important features. B. cathcartii is well illustrated in Hooker’s “Illustrations of Himalayan Plants” (Plate 13). The plant described by Mrs. Henry and now often referred to as B. cathcartii is, in fact, one of the forms of B. xanthina, a species which inhabits the same general geographical region. This species was first described by Hooker (Botanical Magazine, plate 4683) in November, 1852 and a good illustration in color accompanies the original description. B. xanthina is related to B. rex. It has short, thick, horizontal rhizomes and heart-shaped leaves which are green to purple and variously marked above and red beneath. The petioles and peduncles are hairy as also are the main veins beneath. The inflorescences rise well above the foliage and are many-flowered, the flowers being bright yellow with the petals smooth but tinged red on the reverse. The female flowers are smaller than the males and are characterized by the possession of one ovary wing which is “remarkably elongated horizontally”. In the 1935 supplement to “Hortus” under B. cathcartii there is briefly described the plant introduced by Mrs. Henry under that name, but it is really B. xanthina. T.H. Everett
Lineage
9 descendants
Parents
No parentage recorded.
Etymology: Greek xanthina (yellow) after the flower colour; B. lazuli Linden, Suppl. Cat. Pl. Exot. :2. 1858, nomen nudum. —W.J. Hooker, Bot. Mag. 85:pl. 5107. 1859.; B. xanthina W.J. Hooker var. lazuli W.J. Hooker, Bot. Mag. 85:pl. 5107. 1859.—C.B. Clarke in J.D. Hooker, Fl. Brit. Ind. 2:644. 1879.; B. picta auct. non J.E. Smith: hort. Jackson ex W.J. Hooker, Bot. Mag. 85:pl. 5107. 1859.; B. xanthina W. J. Hooker var. pictifolia W. J. Hooker, Bot. Mag. 85:pl. 5102. 1859;
Descendants
9 recorded children
As female parent
6
Male parent: B. unidentified cv.
Male parent: B. unknown
Male parent: B. hatacoa var. hatacoa
Male parent: B. ‘Silver Skies’
Male parent: B. unknown
Male parent: B. hatacoa var. hatacoa
As male parent
3
Culture
- Propagation Method
- leaf, rhizome cuttings or seed
- Cultural Requirements
- Cool growing conditions, moist environment
- Original Botanical Description or Link to
- The Florist and horticultural journal. Philadelphia, Pa. v. 2 1853: Page 194-7 http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/129534 CHARAC. GENER. - Flores monoici. Masc. Perigonii tetraphylli foliolis subrubrotundis, 4 exterioribus majoribus. Stamina plurima; filamentis brevissimis liberis v. basi-connatis, antheris extrorsis bilocularibus, loculis linearibus discretis, connectivi continui obtusi margini adnatis longitudinaliter dehiscentibus. FAEM. Perigon ii tubo tri ptero cum ovario connate, Iimbi superi 4-9-partiti persistent is lobis pluriseriatim imbricatis. Ovarium interrum triloculare. Ovula in placentis e loculorum angulo centrali bilamellatis plurima anatropa. Styli 3 bifidi stigmatibus crassis flexuosis v. capitatis. Capsula membranaceo trialata trilocularis loculicide trivalis. Semina plurima minima striata. Embryo in axi albuminis carnosi ort hotropus. Herbae in Asia et America tropic a, indigence, foliis alternis petiolatis integris v. palmatilobis basi saepecordatis inaequilateris integerrimis dentatis v. macronatoserrritis stipulis lateralibus membranaceis, deciduis, cymis axillaribus pedunculatis dichotomis floribus albus roseis v. rubicundis. CHARACT. SPECIF.-B. acaulis, rhizomate brevi; crasso subtus radicante, foliis amplis oblique cordato-ovatis brevi acuminatis sinuatis denticulatis subtus discoloribus (rubris,) petiolis aggregatis crassis folium subaequantibus rubris stipulatis crinitis, setis patentibus inferioribus reflexis, scapo petiolis duplo Iongiore, floribus nutantibus corymbosis flavis, maisculis tetrasepalis, sepalis 5 oblongo-cuneatis unico majore rotundato magis concavo, foeminis triplo minoribus hexasepalis, sepalis aequalibus ovali-rotundatis, fructus alis duabus brevibus unica horizontaliter elongata striata. Hook. Begonia xanthina, Hook, Bot. Mag. t. 4683. Although many different species of this valuable genus have been discovered up to this time, we have had only those with, white or red flowers. B. cinnabarina with its orange red flowers, was an approach to what we now figure, the Begonia xanthina. But even the yellow of this is shaded with the red which prevails in a greater or less degree in the flowers or leaves, and stalks of all the genus. This species, which flowered in July, 1852, in the collection of Mr. Nuttall, at, Rainhill, Lincolnshire, was received by him in 1850, from the Bootan Himalayas, having been sent thence by his nephew, Mr. Booth. It may be some time before this beautiful plant is imported into this country; but we know, that our enterprising nurserymen and amateurs will obtain it as soon as it finds its way into the hands of the trade in Europe.