Begonia cucullata Willd. var. hookeri (Sweet) L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘Begonia semperflorens.  Stems almost herbaceous, of a pale green colour, and between two and three feet in height.  Leaves about two inches in breadth, nearly round, differing much from the usual oblique form. […] Flowers pure white, in short panicles, rising from the axils of the young leaves.  This is a very pretty species.’  ‘Begonia cucullata.  Stems from two to three feet in height, smooth, of a dark green colour, and slightly tinged with purple at the joints.  Leaves oblique, quite blunt, from three to four inches in length, dark green, and smooth on both sides. […] Flowers resemble those of the preceding species, and it also keeps in bloom the greater part of the year.’  [FC p.274/1846].  ‘The nearest ally [of Begonia semperflorens] is, probably, the B. spathulata of Willdenow. […] I have seen this species cultivated in gardens in Britain, under the names of B. setaria and B. sellovii.’  Begonia semperflorens was sent to the Liverpool Botanic Garden from Brazil by Charles Chamberlayne and first flowered in 1828.  ‘I have seen this species cultivated in gardens in Britain, under the names of B. setaria and B. sellovii.’  [BM t.2920/1829].  According to Krempin introduced as B. cucullata in 1805 and as B. semperflorens in 1828.  LBC no.1439/1830.

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [H.24/1850].

Notes