Begonia × hiemalis, the elatior begonia or Reiger begonia, is an artificial hybrid species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae.[1] Its parents are Begonia socotrana and Begonia × tuberhybrida (itself a hybrid of multiple species).[2] Hybridization efforts began in 1881, with the first cultivar named 'John Heal'.[1] The 'Elatior' cultivar debuted in 1906, and beginning in 1950 Otto Rieger issued many new, disease-resistant cultivars, such that people began to call the species "elatior" or "Rieger" begonias.[1] In addition to their typically doubled flowers which come in every color except blue, they are valued for their tendency to bloom in fall and winter, and in fact nearly year-round.[1]
| Begonia × hiemalis | |
|---|---|
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| Begonia × hiemalis sepals come in a wide variety of colors | |
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| Begonia × hiemalis 'Filur' cultivar | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Cucurbitales |
| Family: | Begoniaceae |
| Genus: | Begonia |
| Species: | B. × hiemalis
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| Binomial name | |
| Begonia × hiemalis | |
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On display in Germany -
Some leaves are visible in this photo -
'Janny Fringed' cultivar -
Close-up of a pink-flowered cultivar -
'Camilla 98' cultivar -
At the Gardens by the Bay, Singapore -
A red cultivar -
A yellow brushed with red Reiger-type cultivar -
A shell-pink cultivar
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Hiemalis, Reiger, Elatior, & ×Cheimantha". begonias.org. American Begonia Society. 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Begonia × hiemalis Fotsch". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
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