Species

B. decora

Photos

5 photos

Identity

Genus: Begonia
Name: B. decora
Author: Stapf, Gard. Chron. III
Publication Date: 1892
Place: Main range, Perak; Pahang.
Habitat: Grows on banks and mossy tree trunks at 1100m and above
Country: Peninsular Malaysia
Region: Asia
Section: Platycentrum
Chr 2n: 22
Plant Type: Rhizomatous
Synonyms and Comments: Etymology: after the decorative leaves; B. praeclara King, J. Asiat. Soc. Beng., pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 71:66. 1902. —Ridley, J. Fed. Malay States Mus. 4:21. 1909; Fl. Malay Penins. 1:863. 1922;
Reference: Gard. Chron. III 12:621. 1892. —Ridley, Fl. Malay Penins. 1:863. 1922. —Irmscher, Mitt. Inst. Allg. Bot. Hamburg 8:121. 1929. —R. Kiew, Begonias of Peninsular Malaysia :133-39, pls. 2005. ; JGSL9/08; The Begonian, Mar 1975;
Article References: Wiener illustrirte Garten-Zeitung, jahr. 18, 1893; Beg. 2:5. Dec. 1935; Tebbitt, Begonias 5:239. 2005; Kiew, Begonias of P. Malaysia 3:133-138. 2005; Hughes M. et al., Asian Begonia 79, 2018;
Photo References: JBS, Begonias :46. 1980; Murotani, Begonia in Colour :56. 1983; Tebbitt, Begonias pl.205. 2005; Kiew, Begonias of P. Malaysia pls.3:133-138. 2005; Hughes M. et al., Asian Begonia 79-80, 2018; The Begonian, Jan 1969; Begonias, Misono 1974: 40 (47);

Plant

Description: Wiener illustrirte Garten-Zeitung, jahr. 18, 1893 B. decora: In this year a new begonia, named B. decora, came into the bargain through Messrs. Veitch, and belongs to the group which has a creeping trunk and is thus already represented by the old B. imperialis. Also, this novelty reaches only a small height and its leaves from 8 to 10 cm. The yellowish-green coloration of her nerves is striking for a long time, between which the leaf surface is covered with short papillose hairs, which are vividly bronzy reddish-brown or purple-brown in color and gradually assume a beautiful, dark, metallic green. This is an extraordinarily beautiful species, which will find a versatile use as an ornamental plant and of which certainly will derive conspicuous forms in a short time.; “The decorative begonia”; Veitch’s' Catalog. of Pl. 1893, p. 9, fig. p. 4. Hortus Veitchii: London: J. Veitch & sons, 1906. Page 231-34 Item: http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/196248 A species with ornamental foliage from Penang. The plant is of a dwarf compact habit with a creeping rootstock, from which are produced the handsome leaves, often 3 to 4 in. long, rich bronzy red-brown with yellow-green nerves, covered with thick-set papillae terminating in short hairs. This species has been crossed with varieties of Begonia Rex by various continental growers, and the offspring are amongst the finest ornamental leaved foliage plants our stoves possess.

Lineage

73 descendants

Parents

No parentage recorded.

Etymology: after the decorative leaves; B. praeclara King, J. Asiat. Soc. Beng., pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 71:66. 1902. —Ridley, J. Fed. Malay States Mus. 4:21. 1909; Fl. Malay Penins. 1:863. 1922;