Species

B. philodendroides var. philodendroides

Photos

5 photos

Identity

Genus: Begonia
Name: B. philodendroides var. philodendroides
Form Variety: var. philodendroides
Author: Rudolf Ziesenhenne, Begonian
Publication Date: 1954
Place: Oaxaca, Chiapas
Country: Mexico
Region: America
Section: Gireoudia
Chr 2n: 28
Plant Type: Rhizomatous
Reference: Begonian 21:300, pl. 1954.”philodendrodes”.; JGSL9/08; The Begonian, Mar 1971;
Photo References: JBS, Begonias :61. 1980; The Begonian, Mar 1971; The Begonian, Dec 1954;

Plant

Description: The Begonian Dec 1954, p. 300-302 Begonia philodendroides by Rudy Ziesenhenne BEGONIA (section MAGNUSIA (klotzsch) A. DC., subsection GIREOUDIA (KLOTZSCH) Wbg) philodendroides, Ziesenhenne, new species, herbaceous perennial: stem (figure 1 top of stem, figure 2 side view of stern) a creeping jointed rhizome growing under the soil, fleshy, oval, 13/4 inches long, ½ inch wide, 3/8 inch in depth, tip rounded, seldom branched, entire length covered with foliage; internodes about 1/16 inch long; dull surface, pod green 061/1 (the number refers to the color in The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart); below spinach green 0960/2, smooth; lenticels whitish few; leaf-stem scars light brown (figure 1): stipules (figures 3 and 4) remaining, like paper, affixed by their top edge, growing over the front of the rhizome, one larger than the other alternately, uneven horizontally U-shaped with the opening toward the inside; right side one (number 3) tip blunt, saw-toothed, margin inside undulate, outside undulate, two-lobed at base, 11/32 inch long, % inch wide, pod green 061/3, smooth, dull, bare, nerves not distinguishable; left side one (figure 4) tip blunt, outer margin inequally undulate, % inch long, % inch wide; leaf stern (figure 2) dull, round, % inch in diameter, 10 inches long, Veronese green 660/2, dotted and striped oxblood red 00823/3, dull surface, few scattered reddish-brown shaggy hairs (figure 5) 1/32 inch long; leaf (figure 6) leather like, shiny, bare, spinach green 0960; below Veronese green 660/2, dull, nerves prominent, few scattered reddish-brown shaggy hairs (figure 5) on nerves, leaves heart shaped (figures 6 & 9), sides nearly equal, deeply palmately 7-lobed, lobes sometimes lobed, tips sharp pointed, base sub-arrowhead shaped, margin (figures 7 & 8) minutely saw-toothed, 3% inches long, 5% inches wide, palmately 7-nerved, outside basally 2, laterally 1, inside basally 2, laterally 1, intervenia slightly bowed up (some of the leaves have only 6 veins and lobes but they may vary from 5 to 7 lobes and veins) : inflorescence (figure 10) a cyme, few-flowered, blooms in the fall, flower-stems some from the leaf axils, round, about 3/16 inch in diameter, 9 inches long, Veronese green 660/2, dotted and striped oxblood red 00823/3, dull, few scattered brown hairs (figure 5); branches, internodes (figure 11) 1 1/4 inches long; pedicels (figure 12) 5/8 inch long; largest leaflet on flower-stern (figure 13) turns brown and dries quickly, papery in texture, inverted egg-shaped, slightly lobed on the outer left tip edge, tip rounded, 3/16 inch long, 1/8 inch wide, secondary ones (figure 14) oblong, right tip slightly lobed, tip rounded, about 1/8 inch long, 3/32 inch wide; tertiary ones (figure 15), oblong, tip rounded, 3/16 inch long, 1.16 inch wide: male flowers (figures 16 & 17) petals 2, white, thick, roundish, tip rounded, base rounded, bare 7/16 inch long, 9/16 inch wide; stamens 34, (figures 16 & 18), filaments free, about 1/32 inch long, anthers oblong, wedge shaped, tip blunt, 3/32 inch long, connective produced: female flowers (figures 19 & 20) flower-stern % inch long; petals 2, white, thick, roundish, tip blunt, base rounded, ¾ inch long, 7/8 inch wide; styles (figure 21), base 1/16 inch long, 3 styles 1/32 inch long, curved shaped, slightly 2-lobed, stigma papillae (figures 21, 22, & 23) on tip and outer edge: capsule (figures 19 & 24) 7/16 inch long, 13/32 inch wide, inverted egg-shaped, tip rounded, base sharp pointed, green; 3 winged, largest papery, green, thin, curved downward, long triangular, tip blunt, 19/32 inch long, 7/32 inch wide at base; other two, curved downward, long triangular, tip blunt, 7/16 inch long, % inch wide; ovary 3-celled, placenta 2-divided and carrying seeds on all sides. Mexico, Chiapas & Oaxaca. In the foothills of the eastern Sierras. Mr. William Brooks 1951. The leaves of this plant are similar in appearance to Philodendron Dubium and from this we derive its name, Begonia philodendroides closest relative is B. heracleifolia Cham & Schlecht. It differs from it and its varieties in its white flowers, by the wings being long and narrow, by the stipules being U-shaped and covering the blunt tip of the rhizome, by the lack of scale-like hairs on the peduncle and petioles and the back sides of the leaves, by the whitish, smooth, jointed subterranean rhizome which resembles a tuber, and by the leaves being less deeply lobed. This begonia has thick, lobed, smooth, leathery-like leaves and beautiful large flowers. It is one of the rhizomatous begonias which remains dormant from five to six months. The rhizome always grows down and buries itself. The leaf stems and flower stems come up through the soil. Each season the rhizome starts out anew from the old rhizome and leaves a narrow connection link between the old and new part. Begonia philodendroides is easily grown and may be left in the old soil when it goes dormant. After its dormancy, it springs into growth and may then be re-potted as necessary. 'It blooms in September, October and into November and should not be repotted or fed after that time for the plant will shed its foliage shortly and go dormant, Of this begonia Mr. Brooks wrote in THE BEGONIAN April 1952 page 75: "In the foothills of the eastern Sierras along the line of the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, where the blue Pacific Ocean dominates the horizon to the south, grows a begonia which has so far eluded any great amount of collecting, By virtue of growing among the very succulent roots of Sobralias, that beautiful-flowered terrestrial orchid, this begonia (which is tuberous of course, without leaves in the dry season) entering our garden unknown to us, and, when it began to grow in the spring, we found ourselves in possession of a new tuberous begonia. On first seeing it Mr. Rudolf Ziesenhenne called it a ‘philodendron leaved Begonia’ and we think the name may stay because of its being a very appropriate one."
Stem Type: Underground with erect stems