Begonia masoniana

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Cucurbitales

Familia: Begoniaceae
Genus: Begonia
Sectio: B. sect. Coelocentrum
Species: Begonia masoniana
Name

Begonia masoniana Irmsch., 1959.
Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Asie
China South-Central; China Southeast; Malaya

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References

Irmscher, E. 1959. Begonian 26: 202, 231.
USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. [1]

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2019. Begonia masoniana in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Apr. 15. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Begonia masoniana. Published online. Accessed: Apr. 15 2019.
The Plant List 2013. Begonia masoniana in The Plant List Version 1.1. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Apr. 15.
Tropicos.org 2019. Begonia masoniana. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Apr. 15.

Vernacular names

Begonia masoniana, the iron cross begonia, is a species of plant in the family Begoniaceae, native to southern China and northern Vietnam. It was originally described from cultivated plants of unknown origin and was only much later rediscovered in the wild. It is a rhizomatous perennial begonia growing to 0.5 metres (20 in), bearing large, asymmetrical, textured green leaves covered in reddish hairs, with a prominent dark brown pattern in the centre of each leaf, reminiscent of the German Iron Cross. It produces small white flowers in erect panicles, but is cultivated mainly for its foliage effect. In temperate regions it must be grown under glass, or in a completely frost-free environment. Not to be confused with the similar looking species Begonia variegata, from Vietnam. Although sometimes (incorrectly) considered a Rex begonia, this species is classified in the related section Coelocentrum.[1][2]

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3]
References

RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
"American Begonia Society - Begonia masoniana".
"RHS Plant Selector - Begonia masoniana". Retrieved 15 April 2020.