Begonia cucullata
Begonia hirtella
clubed begonia, wax begonia
Brazilian begonia
[10–]30–70[–100] cm.
8–15[–90] cm.
stipules lanceolate to oblong, 7–19 × 3–6 mm;
petiole 5–46 mm, glabrous;
blade asymmetric, ovate to ± reniform, (28–)46–72[–80] × (28–)33–85 mm, base cuneate on shorter side, usually rounded on longer one, margins not lobed, crenate, teeth apices setose, otherwise eciliate, apex obtuse, surfaces glabrous (or glabrate to sparsely hairy in Alabama specimens).
stipules lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 5–10 × 2–4 mm;
petiole 12–32 mm, ± densely villous;
blade strongly asymmetric, ± ovate to ± cordate, (12–)15–90 × (11–)22–70 mm, base rounded to shallowly cordate on shorter side, rounded to cordate on longer one, margins shallowly or not lobed, crenate, ciliate, apex acute to acuminate, surfaces appressed-pilose.
22–75 mm (in fruit);
bracts lanceolate to ovate.
20–22 mm (in fruit);
bracts linear to ovate.
white to pink;
staminate: tepals 4, outer 2 (sepals) suborbiculate or reniform, 7–10 mm, inner 2 (petals) narrowly obovate, 5–7 mm;
stamens 24–33;
pistillate: tepals 4 or 5, obovate, 6–9 mm.
pinkish;
staminate: tepals 2–4, outer 2 suborbiculate, 2–4 mm, inner 0–2, lanceolate, 4 mm;
stamens 6–9[–22];
pistillate: tepals 5, oblong to obovate, 2 mm.
8–15 × 6–12 mm, larger wings deltate-rounded, 10–17 mm wide, smaller 3.5–5 mm wide.
5–10 × 4–6 mm, larger wings deltate-rounded, 6–10 mm wide, smaller 2–5 mm wide.
= 34, 56 (South America).
Begonia cucullata
Begonia hirtella
Begonia cucullata is found throughout Florida and recently has been collected in nearby Alabama (Conecuh County). The Alabama plants are typical of this species except that the leaves and petioles are glabrate to sparsely hairy; it may require further study. The distinction between varieties is not always clear (B. G. Schubert 1954) and they are not recognized here. Florida specimens often are treated as var. hookeri (de Candolle) L. B. Smith & B. G. Schubert, a name that has been put in synonymy of var. cucullata (L. B. Smith et al. 1986). From the morphologic variation observed, it is possible that this species escaped repeatedly from cultivation. It appears to be able to produce abundant seeds; capsules are regularly found on specimens and sometimes are abundant. Known horticulturally as B. semperflorens, B. cucullata has played an important role in ornamental horticulture.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Begonia hirtella is naturalized only in Miami-Dade County; it is also a weed in greenhouses. A specimen similar to B. hirtella, collected in Palm Beach County on a floating, rotting log in a cypress strand (Bradley and Woodmansee 1239, FTG), is glabrous and cannot be determined in its vegetative condition at the present time; it is unknown whether it has persisted.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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