Species
B. daedalea
See B. strigillosa
Photos
2 photos
Identity
- Genus
- Begonia
- Name
- B. daedalea
- Author
- Lemaire, Ill. Hort. 7, Misc.
- Publication Date
- 1860
- Country
- Mexico
- Region
- America
- Section
- Gireoudia
- Chr 2n
- 26
- Plant Type
- Rhizomatous
- Synonyms and Comments
- B. strigillosa Dietrich. 1851.
- Reference
- Ill. Hort. 7, Misc. :54. 1860; Ill. Hort. 8:pl. 269. 1861. —A. de Candolle, Prodr. 15(1):342. 1864.; JGSL9/08
- Article References
- L'Illustration Horticole, v.8 (1861)
Plant
- Description
- L'Illustration Horticole, v.8 (1861) B. daedalea: In one of the preceding volume (page 54), we have already in a few words told our readers of this plant, and we come today to give him an exact figure, so that one can judge, in knowingly, if our expressions have been exaggerated, or even emphatic, when we have said of her: (it is the pearl, the jewel of all the Begonias past, present, we dare almost say, future.) Unfortunately, l required from the ordinary octavo format of our simple planks (let us note in passing that, of all the journals of its kind, the horticultural Illustration has the largest size!) has not allowed to give to the port of the plant all the development that is proper to it, and that we have not only cut the petioles, remove the flowers (see opposite), but tighten and condense, so to speak, the leaves. However, we have been able to represent these of natural size; and, as we have just said, the reader, being able to count on the fidelity of the drawing, will not only be able to appreciate the beauty of the plant, but will also judge whether the specific name, which we have thought fit to give to the species, expresses well the curious and charming variegation of its leaves: reticulated variegation, zigzag, of a beautiful purple brown, cutting sharply on the beautiful porcelain green of the upper face, showing itself also on the inferior, but then paler and less clear : motley, finally, imitating perfectly, in infinitely small, a labyrinth, and by a just comparison, the famous labyrinth of the island of Crete. We will not repeat what we have said about stalk, petioles, and leaf blade; but we shall say that, according to our later observations, these petioles reach up to 20-30 cm., and are more brilliantly colored than the leaves, because of the rich and vivid double coloring of the large, multi-faceted scales. carry; that the leaves themselves acquire a length of 20 cm. over a diameter of 15; that their unequal basilar lobes overlap each other. The flowers, which we had not observed then, are very pretty, of a pinkish white, and arranged in a panicle shorter than the petioles, and has richly and strongly colored divisions, but glabrous. The males and females, intermingled on the same branches, the first terminals, are conformed, and all two-petaled (V. the diagnosis). The young fruits are at once pink, white and green, crimson pickets. We have just observed them in their perfect fulfillment at the very moment when we are writing (January 15, 1861). We have said that the Verschaffelt establishment was indebted for this charming plant to M. Ghiesbreght, who had discovered it in Mexico, from which he had sent it directly to him. Will we have the fate of Cassandre, by predicting such a plant a resounding and long-lasting vogue? No, no doubt! as long as there are in the horticultural world enlightened and judicious amateurs. - CR. LEM.
Lineage
2 descendants
Parents
No parentage recorded.
B. strigillosa Dietrich. 1851.
Descendants
2 recorded children
As female parent
1
Male parent: B. aridicaulis
As male parent
1
Female parent: B. ‘Polyantha’
Culture
No populated fields in this section.