B. ‘Abel Carriere’

Culture

Original Botanical Description or Link to

Abel Carriere: from The Garden: an illustrated weekly journal of gardening in all its branches. London, 1871-1927 v.15 (1879) Page 483: http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/46599 This is the result of a cross between B. discolor and Rex, discolor being the male parent. Rex and its varieties are mostly stemless or nearly so, and have persistent variegated leaves which are continually being reproduced; the roots, too, are fibrous or filiform. B. discolor, on the other hand, is tuberous, caulescent, and bas leaves uniformly green on the upper side and red on the under, whence the specific appellation discolor; moreover, the stems, and consequently the leaves, are annual. It will therefore be seen that these two plants differ greatly, both in appearance, mode of growth, and general character. The hybrid in question is the result of crossing these two very different species, and it participates in the characteristics of both its parents. It has the aspect and growth of B. dis­color, but with variegation and marbling on its leaves which reminded one of B. Rex. Its habit of growth is also slightly modified, and its aerial portions last much longer than those of B. discolor. The roots, too, are fleshy and smaller, less so, however, than those of B. discolor which form tuberous masses. As for the hardiness of this variety we can say but little at present, but it will endure more cold than B. Rex. New varieties, crosses between B. discolor and produce bulblets like B. Rex, but in smaller quantities, and always much more slowly, a state of things which may explain the facility with which they may be kept in leaf during the winter. These bulblets are neither uniform in size nor form. The two species in question were crossed in 1875 by M. Svahn, who collected the seeds of the hybrids thus produced, and sowed them again the follow­ing year. From these seedlings, were obtained eight varieties, which have been introduced into the market by M. Bruant, a horticulturist of Poitiers. One of these is the Abel Carriere variety, of which the annexed is an illustration. It is an upright-growing plant, with a straight, strong, fleshy-ramified stem, which with the leaf-s talks is of a red color. It often reaches a height of 18 in., its general form reminding one of that of B. discolor. The upper surface of the leaves is silvery, marbled, with rose, and the underside pale pink. The flowers are also pink, and closely resemble those of B. discolor. This variety, in addition to its other merits, possesses the recommendation of being perfectly hardy, as the experiments of M. Bruant prove most conclusively. Ten plants of it, were left out in the open ground at the beginning of last winter, without shelter of any sort. In November, a hard frost, with the thermometer at nearly 3° F, below freezing point, left their foliage intact, although the parent Begonia discolor was completely stripped of its leaves a long time before. Some days after, a cold of nearly 6° F below freezing point stripped them almost completely, a. few leaves, however, remaining at the base. By the 25th of January, after having gone through. a severe winter, during which the temperature sank several times to 18° F below freezing point, in spite of their being planted in very damp soil, they appeared to have passed through the trial unscathed. The eyes at the collar of the root were very apparent, being well swollen, and evidently in an excellent condition for an abundant growth. It would seem, therefore, that certain of these new Begonias, which remind one, owing to their variegated foliage, of their congeners in the hothouse, may be grown in the open ground with perfect impunity. Such an addition to our list of hardy ornamental plants is a welcome one. -" Revue Horticole."