Species
B. fernandocostae var. fernandocostae
Photos
5 photos
Identity
- Genus
- Begonia
- Name
- B. fernandocostae var. fernandocostae
- Form Variety
- var. fernandocostae
- Author
- Irmscher, Bot. Jahrb. Syst.
- Publication Date
- 1953
- Place
- Sao Paulo
- Country
- Brazil
- Region
- America
- Section
- Pritzelia
- Plant Type
- Shrub-like
- Synonyms and Comments
- B. ‘2366’; B. ‘Fernando-Costal’;
- Reference
- Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 76:52-54. 1953. “fernandoi-costae”; JGSL9/08; The Begonian, Aug 1960;
- Article References
- Begonian 46:107-9. 1979;
- Photo References
- The Begonian, Aug 1960; The Begonian, May 1959; The Begonian, May 1979; Exotica - Pictorial Encyclopedia of Indoor plants; Begonias, Misono 1974: 52 (69);
Plant
- Description
- B. FERNANDO-COSTAE IRMSCHER by Mildred L. Thompson In the late 1940's Mulford Foster, of Orlando, Florida, brought back seeds of an unidentified species from an exploring trip in South America. This seed was distributed to American Begonia Society members in February 1949 as No. 2366, and later the species became known as Fernando-Costa. It was thought that this species was named for the place where it was collected; however, on page 61 in the March 1953 Begonian appeared this: ". . . we received a note from Mr. Mulford Foster, Orlando, Florida, to the effect that it should be Begonia Fernando-Costae, after a man by that name, as christened by Senor Brade, the foremost South American authority on Begonias at the Botanic Garden of Rio de Janeiro." In the Buxton Check List of Begonias [1957] B. Fernandocostae was listed as being in the Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh in 1948. Up until 1953, however, the name and description of this species was not validly published. In 1953 Dr. Edgar Irmscher, a renowned German botanist and Begoniaceae specialist, wrote an extensive article based on his studies of a large collection from the Herbarium of the Botanical Institute of Sao Paulo sent him by Professor F. C. Hoehne, and material sent by Dr. A. C. Brade of the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro. Within this article, which appeared in Botanische Jahrbucher, Vol. 76, Dr. Irmscher published the name and description of B. fernando-costae on pp. 52-54. Dr. Irmscher lists three herbarium specimens of this Brazilian species that he studied. The first one listed (No. 27343) was collected in the state of Sao Paulo by Hoehne on March 16, 1931 near Cubatao, on the Atlantic Coast in the Serra do Mar coastal mountain range. The other two were collected by Luederwaldt at separate times on the Ipiranga Plain in the state of Sao Paulo: April 1912 (No. 8765) and April 1917 (No. 18011). These specimens were from the Herbarium of the Botanical Institute of Sao Paulo. Dr. Irmscher placed this species in the section Pritzelia. Dr. Irmscher named Begonia fernando-costae in honor of Dr. Fernando Costa, the meritorious founder of the Botanical Gardens in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Seeds of B. fernando-costae have been offered by the Clayton M. Kelly Seed Fund of the American Begonia Society on a somewhat regular basis since it was introduced into the United States by Mr. Foster in 1949. In the 1965 seed offering, the seed was mentioned as having been collected in a shady forest 100 to 1000 ft. from the ocean, at low elevations from 30 to 300 ft. In the areas where B. fernandocostae has been collected, the average temperatures in the summer are between 78° F. and 85° F. during the day and 65° F. and 75° F. at night. The winter temperatures average 65° F. to 75° F. during the day and 50° F. to 60° F. at night. There are extremes between 90° F. and 100° F. during the summer and 30° F. and 40° F. in the winter with an occasional frost. The relative humidity is within the 70% to 90% range. The weather is rainy all year, and especially rainy during the spring and summer. Rainfall on the coast is 80 to 90 inches a year and about 50 to 60 inches inland. It should be noted, however, that most tropical regions experience rainfall as showers with sunshine in between; this allows ample time for the leaves and soil to dry between showers. Prolonged dark, rainy periods are almost non-existent in tropical regions. Growers have shown a great interest in this species, and among begonia enthusiasts it' is fairly well known. Some hybridizers recognized the possibilities of B. fernando-costae, and as a result several important hybrid cultivars were introduced. In 1953 Jack Lighthart, of Cardoza Gardens, California registered B. 'Lillian Sloan,' which resulted when B. metallica was used as the female parent. In 1956 Louise Schwerdtfeger introduced B. 'Raythel,' a sparsely hairy, large-leaved shrub-like begonia, using B. epipsila as the male parent. F. 0. Michelson, of Miami, Florida registered two cultivars: B. 'Fernan-Veil,' a lovely compact type, using B. olsoniae as the male parent and B. 'Lorene Brown,' a beautiful, hairy, large-leaved shrub-like begonia using an unidentified species as the male parent. B. fernando-costae is classified horticulturally as shrublike, hairy-leaved, wide-leaved (generally over 3" at maturity). This species is a full plant that sends up many basal shoots; however, there is little branching along the stems. The light green stems are covered with red-tinted, green hairs. The stems grow to approximately 25"; the internodes average 1" to 2" in length. The petioles measure about 4" to 10" in length and are also covered with red-tinted, green hairs. The large, light green stipules turn brown quickly and remain on the stem for a long time. The deep rich green leaves measure about 5" to 8" long and 3" to 7" wide; the light green undersurface of some leaves is heavily tinted red. Both sides of the leaves are covered with soft hairs; on the upper surface the light green hairs measure about 1/10'', and on the undersurface the red-tinted, light green hairs are a little shorter, and each hair is split at one-half of its length into two to four thread-like branches. The leaf shape is ovate-oblique with a cordate base and a shortly acuminate apex. The margin is slightly undulate, densely ciliate, and slightly dentate. The hairy flower stalks are about 18" to 20" long and rise well above the foliage with multi-floral cymes of white flowers. The male flowers have four tepals; the female flowers have five tepals. B. fernando-costae blooms in late fall and winter. B. fernando-costae is an adaptable species that can tolerate adverse conditions for short periods of time without too much difficulty. Nevertheless, when given the same routine culture as any other hairy-leaved shrub-like begonia, it will respond elegantly. During the spring, summer, and fall months, a lot of bright light with early morning and late afternoon sun is the ideal light situation for keeping the good rich green leaf color and to get adequate blooming. In most areas, plenty of slightly filtered sunlight in the winter is especially important. For good, rich leaf coloring proper lighting is crucial; too much light and/or sunlight will cause the coloring to become pale. Judging from the heavy rainfall and the proximity to the ocean of its natural habitat, it is not difficult to understand why this species will do best when the relative humidity is about 60% or more. This species is tolerant of a wide range of temperatures in its natural habitat and will survive under the same circumstances in cultivation, but there is no question about the fact that it will grow more luxuriantly when the temperatures range between 60° F. and 70° F. and when there is high humidity. We have been growing this Brazilian species satisfactorily in squatty clay pots although we would prefer to grow it in moss-lined containers where it should do even better. We use the same potting mix that we use for most of our begonias. For an erect and stately plant, the stems should be staked, although some growers prefer to grow it unstaked in a hanging container which works well too. No matter which type of container is chosen the plant should never be over-potted, because it does tend to become "leggy" unless it has the proper potting accommodations. Pinching some of the growing tips of some of the young shoots also helps to keep the plant full. You should never underestimate the importance of regular fertilizing using a well-balanced fertilizer. We have believed in preventive care, so we spray regularly with broad spectrum insecticides and fungicides. Propagation can be accomplished by any of three methods: leaf cuttings, stem cuttings, or seeds. The leaf cuttings will produce fuller plants more quickly, but the propagation time will be longer than with stem cuttings. B. fernando-costae was added to our collection in May 1974, when we received seeds of this species from the Clayton M. Kelly Seed Fund. We have always enjoyed growing it, and we have found it delightfully easy to grow. I am grateful to Dr. Benjamin Herman for the information concerning the climatic conditions of the natural habitat of this species. I am also grateful to Jack Golding, Carrie Karegeannes, and Rudy Ziesenhenne for their assistance in trying to get more definite information concerning the origin of the name.
Lineage
4 descendants
Parents
No parentage recorded.
B. ‘2366’; B. ‘Fernando-Costal’;
Descendants
4 recorded children
As female parent
3
As male parent
1
Female parent: B. metallica
Culture
No populated fields in this section.