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Full list of Begonias (except Rexes)
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In the world of begonias, it's important to understand the distinction between species and cultivars.
refer to the naturally occurring types of begonias found in the wild. They have distinct characteristics. Each species has its own set of traits, including growth habit, leaf shape, and flower color.
is a group of plants within a species in nature that forms a trait. This is most often due to natural mutations and is stable; i.e. can be reproduced by seed or cuttings.
This natural grouping of Plants within the Parameters of a species yet this population or group has somehow gathered two or more divergent characters compared to the Type Species. One single plant is not a variety, if a single plant diverges from its parent plant that is called a aberration or a mutation. A natural variation if propagated in culture is not a variety, it is a cultivar. All "varieties" are formed in wild conditions.
is a combination of two plants with different genes. Hybrids are named with the parent plants with the female parent first, then male (female × male). This can be naturally occurring (e.g. B. manaus [B. thelmae × B. ‘solimutata’] or man-made.
is a contraction to the Phrase 'Cultivated Variety' meaning a grouping or population due to Human intervention. A cultivar is a specific individual plant that has been selected for specific traits. Cultivars are given specific names and may be species or hybrids. This specific individual plant should have consistent characteristics though it usually takes cloning or cuttings to keep a cultivar consistent. They generally cannot be reproduced by seed.
This also encompasses varieties that were naturally selected, then propagated in human cultivation. Any Plants that have been propagated and widely distributed amongst Human Cultivation is a cultivar.
So, while species begonias offer a glimpse into the diversity of begonia plants in nature, cultivars provide a wide range of options for begonia enthusiasts to choose from, each with its own unique beauty and charm.
That means only clonal propogations from the original individual plant can truly be called the cultivar name. Sibling plants from the same seed pod cannot truthfully be called by the cultivar name, and neither can the seed offspring from the cultivar, even when self pollinated. Those hybrids should instead be named as per usual for hybrids e.g. B.versicolor × B. hemsleyana.
Cultivars can be considered to be superior to wild collected plants because they have been selected for vigor, form and color and have been proven hardy in human cultivation. All cultivars are made with Human Intervention, not all cultivars are Hybrids, some are selections from existing wild populations.
The U number system (or more correctly, the Unidentified Begonia Species List) was created by the American Begonia Society (ABS) in 1981 to track unidentified species. These plants are assigned a U number- like U400 until it is named or identified. U numbers are used to identify the species until then.