Cultivar
B. ‘Emile Lemoine’
Photos
1 photo
Identity
- Genus
- Begonia
- Name
- B. ‘Emile Lemoine’
- Originator
- Lemoine
- Date of Origin
- 1878
- Place
- France
- Country
- France
- Region
- Europe
- Plant Type
- Tuberous
- Publication Reference
- RHB; WBHC-WW
- Article References
- Belgique Horticole, t. 29 (1879)
Plant
- Description
- Belgique Horticole, t. 29 (1879) TUBEROUS BEBONIAS WITH DOUBLE FLOWERS, BEGONIA ROSAEFLORA FLORA PLENO (VAR AND HYBR.). BY MR EDUARD MORREN. In 1867, a number of Begonias, discovered in Peru and in neighboring regions, have been introduced into Europe, remarkable in general for the beauty of their flowers and their tuberous roots. The first comers are Begonia boliviensis, Veitchi and rosaefiora, of which horticultural Belgium published the description and the figure in 1868 (page 65, plate V, VI, VII). In addition, B. Clarkei (B.H., 1868, pl.VIII), Davisii (B.H., 1877, pp. 237, pl.XII), Pearcei, Froebeli, polypetala, octopetala, etc., may be mentioned. These last species have just arrived in Europe; they still have all their rustic or savage way of life: they are not yet bent to the habits of culture, or, as we may say, domesticated. If they have already reproduced since they were subjected to the yoke of man; only a few generations have emerged in our greenhouses or artificial care replace the climate of their homeland. The first three species, the Begonia Boliviensis, rosaeflora and veitchii, are not quite so: these are cultivated with skill and reproduced rapidly by sowing and, moreover, by a constitution which has proved itself remarkable flexibility, have soon evolved in the direction of aesthetics. The characters acquired and inverted by atavism have been more or less shaken. In fact, these species soon gave varieties that rivaled each other in novelty and beauty. The basic characteristics of the species from which they arise are still found in these varieties. Thus, for example, the Begonia sedeni, Chelsoni, and Massange-de Louvrex (Gard, Chron May 4, 1878, p.565) are still very similar to the Begonia boliviensis from which they come. Artificial fertilization and hybridization are relatively easy in Begonias; perhaps even these interesting operations are nowhere more comfortable in the vegetable kingdom than in this kind. We know what admirable results they have lately produced in the group of Indian Begonias, with a creeping rhizome, with multicolored foliage, including the Begonia Rex; can be considered as the type. It is the same for the Peruvian Begonias. The B. boliviensis, rosaeflora and Veitchi crosses and hybrids between them, have rapidly proclaimed metis and hybrids that are already innumerable and in which the aesthetic evolution has made the fastest progress. In some. blood predominates, one should say the seve, of B. boliviensis. These are the high-stemmed, narrow-leaved, pendulous-flowering forms with the long petals. They are also the most rustic forms, the most floribund, the least demanding on the nature of the soil and the most suitable for outdoor cultivation during the summer. Begonia Sedeni belongs to this category, as well as the beautiful and numerous forms cultivated so successfully at Van Houtte. In others, on the contrary, we see the protruding features of B. rosaeflora and Veitchi: they are stocky; their rosette leaves are more or less rounded, the floral peduncles are stiff and the petals are obtuse: the parentage of rosaeflora is revealed by the incarnate petals: that of Veitchi by their shade, orange. But what these products of breeding and hybridization have offered more unexpected for botanists and happier for amateurs is the duplication of their flowers. Voila double flowers produced by plants that were classed well wrong among the apetals. This is another argument to be advanced in favor of the fusion, in botanical classification, of Monochlamides and Polypetales. The double Begonias also present this singular phenomenon of carrying both double and single flowers at once and normally. Indeed, the pistillate flowers of these monoic plants have so far experienced no duplication or duplication; they do not even seem to have experienced any appreciable change in our eyes; they are well-conformed, their style is normal, and they readily and abundantly yield fertile grains. This incidental observation puts us, once again, on our guard with regard to the hybrid origin of these horticultural products. As for staminate flowers, they have, on the contrary, undergone profound modifications; all their stamens are metamorphosed into petals, and they have thus taken the appearance of pretty rosettes formed of petals and intertwined petals. Their colors vary from crimson and pink to salmon and white in all shades and colors imaginable. There really seems to be plethora in these plants since they are subjected to the intensive regime of the culture. The most zealous and most successful promoter of the double flower Begonias is M. V. Lemoine, horticulturist at Nancy. This skilful horticulturist, by proceeding by artificial fertilization and selection, obtained and fixed a large number of beautiful and good varieties of this new race. All those on our plate III come from his cultures: they were drawn and painted from specimens grown outdoors, in a garden exposed to winds; also the flowers could be even more ample. All these varieties are new, some are still unpublished and even unnamed. The number 1 represents the variety 'Emile Lemoine', as it has bloomed before our eyes. The plant is stocky-compact, with leaves edged with a thin red border. Ramps erect, rising to about Om20, very red. Cymes triflores, formed of 2 female flowers and 1 male flower. The female flowers have a calyx with 4 oval and unequal leaflets. The male flower presents a calyx with 5 or 6 large leaflets, a little acuminate, raised and enveloping a pretty rosette of leaflets entwined with a beautiful bright red, clear and shade of pink: these leaflets come from the transformation of the stamens. It is a charming variety very rustic and floriferous, absolutely double and really worthy of admiration. Numbers 2 and 3 are not yet baptized; 4, salmon-colored, is dedicated to Countess Horace de Choiseul; 5 is of a tender and pure rose; 6 looks like a pomegranate flower; M. V. LEMOLNE wanted him to be called Edouard Morren; 7 is named 'Anemonaeflora' and brings together the most attractive qualities. We have personally noticed the beautiful effect that all these Begonias produce in summer in the flower beds. They can also be grown in pots, in the greenhouse and used to beautify and liven up the apartments. On Begonias tubereux and their culture, the following articles that have appeared in Begique horticole can be consulted: Note from M. L. Van Houtte, 1874, p. 48. Note from M. Malet, 1874, p. 50. Note by M. Quihou, 1875, p. 139. Note on the Begonias of M. J. B. A. Deleuil, 1875, p 371. Note by M. Crousse, 1876, p. 135. Note by M. Fr. Pache, 1878, p. 314. We also like to point out to those who do not yet know it an excellent article written for Flore des Serres (1878, p.119, pl.2326) by our learned colleague M. J. E. Planchon.
Lineage
Parents
No parentage recorded.
Descendants
No recorded descendants.
Culture
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