Species
B. chivatoa
Photos
2 photos
Identity
- Genus
- Begonia
- Name
- B. chivatoa
- Author
- Rudolf Ziesenhenne, Begonian
- Publication Date
- 1950
- Place
- Oaxaca
- Country
- Mexico
- Region
- America
- Section
- Gireoudia
- Chr 2n
- 28
- Plant Type
- Thick Stem
- Reference
- Begonian 17:54, pl. 1950.; JGSL9/08;
- Article References
- The Begonian Aug 1953 p. 175;
- Photo References
- The Begonian, Oct 1953;
Plant
- Description
- The Begonian Aug 1953 p. 175 Begonia Chivatoa, one for the collector – by F.W.S. This tricky but interesting begonia, collected by Thos. MacDougall, March 2, 1946, on an 8000-foot grassy plain in Oaxaca, was first described by Rudolf Ziesenhenne in the March 1950, Begonian, and named chivatoa, for the mountain on whose side it grew. This picture, the cut of which was loaned by the American Horticultural Society, with whom we are affiliated, is one of Mr. Ziesenhenne’s showing the interesting reverse of the leaves. Even experts in our favorable locality have had trouble keeping this plant over its dormancy, it being one of those which like to be thoroughly soaked and then let dry out quite well before the next soaking and want little water during its late winter rest. Still it must not dry so completely that the hair roots are destroyed. We quote again Mr. MacDougall's pertinent comments: "It grew in association with Echeverias, Sedum, Agaves, a Dahlia, two or three Fuchsias, a Solandra, Bromeliads, etc. in dark, vegetative soil accumulated in pockets and crevices and on flat surfaces of the rock (limestone outcrop) mass. The clusters of heavy, upright, unbranched stems were bare, except for clusters of leaves on top. Plants in resting stage: the coldest months had passed but at least two more dry remained. Ripe seed abundant." Mr. Ziesenhenne remarks that it survived half its stems being frozen during winter cold under his oak-covered hill garden. His description states it reaches about 28 inches in height, branches about ¾ inch in diameter with leaves confined to tips: leaves smooth spinach-green above, edged reddish, with but a few hairs on main veins and similar beneath with red-hairiness tracing the main veins. Blooms in winter on 10" peduncles green with reddish-brown shaggy hairs, with many small two-pleated flowers, carmine, outside. Unequal wings on pod. He also comments it resembles B. lobulata, A. DC., but has thicker hairy stems and the short, two-Iobed, untwisted stigmas and persistent stipules. -F. W. S.
Lineage
Parents
No parentage recorded.
Descendants
No recorded descendants.
Culture
No populated fields in this section.