It seems very odd that a class of plants such as the Begonias takes such varied growth forms.
Plant explorers must have been greatly puzzled by these differences.
They often brought them back to the botanists who identified them by their seed pods which constantly show the same similarities.
Procumbent Begonias
These Begonias with the fleshy rootstalk or rhizome as it is called, are often known as the procumbent type.
This term simply means that their growth springs from a fleshy prostrate stalk, often hairy, which lies curled around the pot’s surface or may hang over it. These plants have no erect stem or stalk.
On these rhizomes will be seen scars where leaves have grown and fallen off. Once these leaf scars are covered with soil, new little plants will arise.
This is as good a way as any to propagate these plants, although there are several means of doing so from the leaves.
Begonia Flowerets
Aside from the rhizomes, these plants are marked by fairy-like sprays of dainty flowers borne on tall stalks above the immense leaves.
These individual flowerets are not large but are usually very profuse, sometimes pink, sometimes white.
They give this rather clumsy plant a certain quality which makes us forgive it for taking up so much room that it really requires to make itself a good specimen plant.
Formally often, one such would be found in spacious old-fashioned rooms of flower lovers, occupying a pedestal all by itself.
Still, modern homes have demanded smaller plants to fit into their plans better.
I, too, have grown a few of these in past years, enjoying their beauty for a time but reluctantly giving them up for the smaller sorts.
Different Begonias With A Rootstalk
Water Lily Begonia
Feasti, the Beafsteak or Water Lily Begonia, was one such. The round, thick lily-pad-like leaves with 5 to 8 distinct white veins are red underneath.
It seems to stand all sorts of abuse and neglect. They are very hardy blooming in the spring. One often sees them in windows.
This one originated in Baltimore by John Feast. It is a cross, one of its parents being Manicata, also a prostate variety.
Manicata Aurea
Manicata aurea, which I have also grown, has heart-shaped leaves edged with a hairline of red and a thick collar of red hairs where leaf and stem join.
The leaves have yellow and white blotches; the winter-blooming flowers are pale pink.
Sunderbruckii “Star Begonia”
Sunderbruckii, better known as the Star Begonia (there are several of these), is the most beautiful of all.
Most of us are familiar with its deeply lobed leaves, usually seven lobes to a leaf, which are very dark green, almost black, but striped down the center with light green.
When given the right amount of light, there is also a bronzy cast to these immense leaves.
The long-stemmed sprays of rosy-pink flowers are hardly necessary to make this a beautiful conservatory plant.
Other Begonias
There are others I might mention: Venus, Mrs. Townsand, and Bunchii, the latter a glorified Feasti, with leaves a much lighter green, ruffled and crested, said to be a sport originated in Kansas by Lloyd Bunch.
It was somewhat more difficult for me to get started.
However, if one can allow space to at least one of these lovely Begonias, growing them will have little difficulty, for they are of easy culture.
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