The

Begonian
January/February 2019

As snow falls outside, I see a similarity between
the snowflakes and the silver splotches on this
hybrid cane Begonia leaf.
Photo by Linda Tamblyn
ABS Online at: http://www.begonias.org
webmaster@begonias.org
Editor, Art Direction and Design:
Linda Tamblyn, 5635 Woodward St.,
Merriam, KS 66202; 913-231-1020;
begoniaskc@yahoo.com
Consulting Editor: Jan Brown,
begoniabrown@yahoo.com
Nomenclature Editor:
Dr. Mark C. Tebbitt
Editorial and Identification Assistance:
Tom Keepin, Jem Wiseman
Display Ads:
Linda Tamblyn, begoniaskc@yahoo.com
Holiday Greetings:
Frances Drescher, 11529 Riverchase Run
West Palm Beach, FL 33412; 561-625-5404;
fkdrescher1@comcast.net
2 The Begonian
ISSN 0096-8684
The
Begonian
Publication of the American Begonia Society
American Begonia Society
Founded January 1932
by Herbert P. Dyckman
Aims and Purposes
To stimulate and promote
interest in begonias
and other shade-loving plants.
To encourage the intro duction and
development of new types of these plants.
To standardize the
nomenclature of begonias.
To gather and publish information in
regard to kinds, propagation, and culture of
begonias and companion plants.
To issue a bulletin that will be mailed to
all members of the society.
To bring into friendly contact all
who love and grow begonias.
The Begonian is published bimonthly by the American
Begonia Society at The Sheridan Press, 450 Fame
Avenue, Hanover, PA 17331 USA. Views expressed are
not necessarily those of the society, its officers, or the
editor. Contents, except where labeled otherwise, may be
reprinted without limitation, provided credit is given to
The Begonian, magazine of the American Begonia Society.
Contact: American Begonia Society, P.O. Box 471651, San
Francisco, CA 94147-1651.
Membership (Paper subscription) $25; (Digital sub-
scription) $15 US, Mexico, and Canada. $45, Overseas
airmail except Mexico and Canada. Added member, same
household, no charge. Consult Membership Chairman
for sustaining, benefactor, and life membership dues. U.S.
currency only. Back issues (current volume) $2.50. Paypal
accepted. Membership dues may be paid online at: http://
www.begonias.org/membership/membershipBenefits.htm
or mail membership dues to:
Linda Kammerer
PO Box 6261
Providence, RI 02940
Join - Direct inquiries about address changes, missing
copies, dues, subscription, back issues and circulation to:
Membership Registrar, Linda Kammerer, PO Box 6261,
Providence, RI 02940; 401-484-8854;
amerbegmembership@gmail.com

Begonia tissue culture pg 14
B. 'Making Waves,
a Brad Thompson hybrid pg 28
Companion plant pg 24
vol 86 January/February 2019
Contents
4 President’s Message
5 2019 Convention Planning
6 Minutes of the American Begonia
Society Business Meeting
7 Southwest Region Get-Together
and ABS Business Meeting
8 The 2019 Southwest Region/
American Begonia Society
Get-Together
11 Potting, Mixes, and Fertilizing
13 The Scent of Rain
14 Begonia Tissue Culture
14 and Micropropagation
17 Begonias Down Under
18 Threatened and Endangered
Begonias at the Fort Worth
Botanical Garden
22 Farewell to Our Friend Jacky
24 Holiday Cactus
28 In Memoriam: Brad Thompson
30 The Buxton Branch Celebrates
80th Birthday
32 2018 The Begonian Index
37 ABS Bookstore
38 Seed Fund
Cover photo: B. salaziensis has
white flowers and a yellow berry-like
fruit. This plant is considered critically
endangered on the island of Mauritius
where it is found. More information
about threatened species can be found
on page 18. Photo by Don Miller
Back cover: Spring in Joe Romeo’s
courtyard garden highlighting a beautiful
array of colorful Begonias. This is an
area with a roof covered in translucent
sheets which filter out 50% of the UV
rays. Joe lives in an Australian climate
which is similar to coastal California.
Photo by Joe Romeo
3
 President’s Message
H appy New Year! I hope all of you
had a very enjoyable holiday season.
During this time of year, my begonias grow
at a slower pace, and I also enjoy a slower
pace. It is nice to have more time inside to
tend to my plants. Recently I’ve enjoyed pol-
linating my begonias and collecting seeds.
For me, 2019 will be an enjoyably busy
year, with many begonia events to look
forward to. And during winter months,
when it’s cold and dreary outside, I enjoy
planning my ABS travels. In February I’ll
travel to Sacramento to do a program for the
Joan Coulat – Sacramento Branch on how
begonia species are named. It will be a plea-
sure to become better acquainted with these
members. In May, of course, is the South-
west Region Get-Together in Austin, and
then back to Sacramento in September for
the ABS National Convention. I’m already
anticipating the pleasure of saying hello to
old and new friends.
Some very sad news, as many of you may
already know, Brad Thompson passed away
in October. In addition to hybridizing hun-
dreds of begonias, Brad served as editor of
The Begonian and created a website, Brad’s
Begonia World, a valuable resource for
learning about different types of begonias,
care and culture, growing for show, and
more. Brad received the Alfred D. Robinson
Medal at least four times and also received
the Eva Kenworthy Gray and Ziesenhenne
Awards. continued on next page

Taylor
Greenhouses
Established 1984

9228 Matthews Rd., Portland, NY 14769

www.taylorgreenhouses.com

Printed list available for $1.00

Over 650
Varieties of
Begonias

Also Coleus, Epiphyllum,

scented Geraniums,
Streptocarpus, and more.

4 The Begonian
2019 Convention Planning
From the Sacramento and San Francisco Branches

Hello from Northern California. The ABS Sacramento and San

Francisco Branches are busy planning for the 2019 National Con-
vention to be held September 3–8, 2019, at the Sacramento Marriott
Rancho Cordova. We will have the Registration form and events for
each day published by March 1, 2019. Check the ABS website, www.be-
gonias.org/events, for details. Anticipated events include tours of members’
homes, of a private garden, of nurseries and flower farm; visiting a conservatory, a
winery and wine tasting, and downtown Sacramento; speakers on topics from conserva-
tion to caring for begonias; the week culminating in a dinner banquet after a show and sale
of beautiful begonias; all the while visiting with our fellow begoniacs.
We have received some wonderful donations for our
silent auction, and will also have items from the ABS
Bookstore for sale.
We hope you are planning to come as we look
forward to this fun week together. In the meantime, if
you have any questions, suggestions, or contributions
that could assist us in our efforts, please let us know by
emailing convention@begonias.org.

President’s Message continued

ABS has lost another invaluable member and dear friend: Jacky Duruisseau, intrepid
begonia explorer and researcher and recipient of the Eva Kenworthy Gray Award in 2017,
lost his battle to cancer on November 10th. He is already missed.
Our hearts go to Brad and Jacky’s families and friends around the world. I am always
grateful for ABS relationships near and far, and cherish the memories of those who are no
longer with us, but always in our hearts.
Best wishes to you in the coming year. — Sally Savelle, ABS President

vol 86 January/February 2019 5

 Minutes of the American Begonia Society
Business Meeting
April 7, 2018 - Airport Hilton, New Orleans

T
he meeting was called to order by
ABS President, Sally Savelle, at
2:00 p.m., a quorum being present.
Wanda Macnair’s motion to accept the
Minutes of the October 2017 Business
Meeting, as printed in the Jan/Feb 2018 Be-
gonian, passed.
Carol Notaras presented the Treasur-
er’s report.
Carol moved that Wendy Corby be in-
stalled as ABS Treasurer, in her place and
stead. By majority vote of those possessed
of the right to vote thereon, there present,
and with Wendy’s assent, the motion
passed.
Stephanie Rose presented the Grants Com-
mittee’s report.
Tom Keepin gave the Branch Rela-
tions report.
2018 ABS Convention Co-Chair, Freda
Holley, gave a report regarding that, then
ongoing, Convention.
2019 Convention Co-Chair, Wendy Corby,
reported on the planned September, 2019,
Sacramento Convention.
Johanna Zinn gave the Judging Com-
mittee report.
Stephen Maciejewski gave the Conserva-
tion Co-Chairs’ report
Sally Savelle gave the Membership Com-
mittee report
Linda Kramer gave the Registrar of Mem-
bership’s report.
Kenny Wilkerson moved that the ABS
make a $2000 contribution to the Fort Worth
Botanical Garden Begonia Species Bank. A
motion by Stephanie Rose to postpone a vote
on Kenny’s motion until the August, 2018,
Business Meeting passed.
Priscilla Purinton gave her Registrar of
Cultivars report.
Priscilla moved that a digital membership
be provided gratis to Melanie Underwood
of the Royal Horticultural Society, and this
motion passed
Freda Holley gave the Publications Com-
mittee Report.
Randy Montes Kerr and Don Miller
gave a report regarding the Unidentified
Species List.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:18 p.m.
DRMK

StevesLeaves.com
Begonias, Gesneriads &
Other Tropical Plants
Sign up for the Botanic Garden Club
for specials, new introductions,
and featured plants

6 The Begonian
 Southwest Region Get-Together and
ABS Business Meeting
Austin, Texas May 1–5, 2019 Wyndham Garden Austin
Wyndham Garden Austin
3401 South IH–35, Austin, Texas 78741
512-448-24 • 512-443-4208
www.wyndhamaustin.com
Room Rates:
King bed (2 people) 2 Queen beds (4 people) = $99 plus taxes
Limited Room Upgrades to an executive for $109; Poolside Casita Suite for $119
Smart Fridge in all rooms; Courtesy Airport Shuttle available 24 hours a day
Complimentary Self-Parking; Complimentary Internet Throughout
Rates good for 2 days pre/post event; Reservation deadline 04/10/2019
We will have a Judging School on Wednesday, May 1, 2019. It will be an all-day event with
an opportunity to clerk in the Judging on Friday. The fee for the Judging School is $40, which
will include the Judge’s Handbook and lunch. We need to know how many are interested. Re-
member, even if you don’t wish to be a judge yet, it is a great way to learn a lot about begonias
from skilled teachers.
If you are interested let either Freda Holley at gehrtii@icloud.com or Doug Byrom at
douglasbyrom@gmail.com know right away.

Begonia of China
by Yu-Min Shui & Wen-Hong Chen
A high quality, hardback edition. 286 pages, 11.5” X 8.5”
$75 includes free shipping in the continental USA
Dr. Shui is a botanist, taxonomist, explorer and a featured
speaker at the April ABS Convention.

Cultivation and
Appreciation of
Wild Begonias
Editors-in-Chief You-Fang
Ding, Wan-Qi Zhang, Wen-Ke Dong,
Wen-Guang Wang, Zhong-Xuan Wang, et al
Hardback edition. 324 pages, 7.75” x 10.5”
$75 Donation includes free shipping continental USA
Wen-Ke Dong (Victor Dawn), who spoke at the 2018
ABS Convention, authored a few chapters in the book.
He also wrote an article for The Begonian on the recent
International Botanical Congress in Shenzhen, China.

Make out checks to Stephen Maciejewski and mail to:

Stephen Maciejewski, 2030 Fitzwater St., Philadelphia, PA, 19146
Questions: Teciu1949@gmail.com

vol 86 January/February 2019 7

 The 2019 Southwest Region/American
Begonia Society Get-Together
Ken Fuchs, Austin, TX

F
riendship, education, the love
of begonias, and a good time
await you at the Southwest
Region/American Begonia Society Get-
Together in Austin May 1–5, 2019. The
Austin Area Begonia Society Branch is
hosting the convention at the Wyndham
Garden Austin located at 3401 South
IH 35 in Austin (512-774-6427 www.
wyndhamaustin.com). A Judging School,
colorful tours, and interesting seminars
will highlight the events over five days.
Registration will begin on Tuesday, May
1, at 5 p.m.
The Judging School will be an all-day
event on Wednesday, May 1 with an
opportunity to clerk in the Judging on
Friday. Even if you don’t wish to be a
judge yet, it is a great way to learn a lot
about begonias from skilled teachers.
The cost will be $40 which will include
judging materials and lunch.
Thursday’s events will begin with a
tour of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflow-
er Center — the State Botanic Garden
and Arboretum of Texas. Founded by
Lady Bird Johnson and Helen Hayes as
the National Wildflower Research Center
Austin's own Pecan Street (above)

8 The Begonian
in 1982, the Center’s mission is to inspire
the conservation of native plants. It is
known for plant conservation, landscape
restoration, and sustainable approaches
to landscape design. Following lunch
at the Wildflower Center, you will visit
Miller’s Tropicals in Dripping Springs.
The greenhouse contains a wide variety
of orchids and rare tropical plants.
Saturday’s tour is the 42nd Annual
Spring Pecan Street Festival, one of the
largest, and longest-running, arts/crafts
and music festivals in the nation. Every-
one can experience the diverse sights,
sounds, and tastes of Austin. With much to
choose from, lunch will be on your own.
There will be two seminars Thursday
evening. Cheryl Lenert will lead a panel
with representatives from ABS member
branches. The panel will focus on the
most successful
growing species
and hybrid in
the Southwest
Region area. Then
Dr. Rick Schoel-
horn of the Palm
Beaches Branch,
Florida, a semi-
retired plant lover
who has worked
Dr. Rick Schoelhorn in both industry
and academia
in his career, will focus on new plants
and new plant introductions. His expe-
rience includes seven years with Proven
Winners (a national consumer brand of
plants), seven years as a professor at the
University of Florida, twelve years as
owner of an interior landscape company
vol 86 January/February 2019
in Colorado, and five years in nursery
sales and production in Alaska. Rick is
also the author of the book Florida Hy-
bridizing: A History, a new ABS publica-
tion which will be available for sale at the
Get-Together.
Stephen Maciejewski
The Friday morning seminars will
begin with Stephen Maciejewski on “Ex-
ploring for Begonias and Gesneriads in
the Wilds of China.” He is President of
the DVB/ABS and Philadelphia’s Liberty
Bell Gesneriad Society Chapter and co-
chair of the Conservation Committees
for GS and ABS. Stephen has traveled to
Ecuador, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Fiji
and Cuba in search of gesneriads and be-
gonias. He is presently planning his first
begonia group field trip to China.
Taddie Hamilton, the cheerful vol-
unteer at the Ft. Worth Botanic Garden
Begonia Collection, will speak about the
terrariums at the Garden, their care re-
quirements, and the containers they use.
9
She will be assisted by others from the Garden as we learn
also about some of the newer begonias in the terrarium col-
lection.
Dr. Rekha Morris will tell us about “A Selection of
Begonia Species from Mexico and Costa Rica.” We know
Rekha as a collector of Indian and Central American be-
gonias and excellent photographs as well as descriptions
of her adventures in their pursuit. She is the author of the
new book Species Begonias of the Eastern Himalayas of
Arunachal India.
On Friday there will be a Combination Judges/Business
Lunch (free to judges and clerks), followed by ABS and Dr. Rekha Morris
SWR Business Meetings, and the swearing-in of new offi-
cers. That evening the Plant Sale and Plant Show will be open to members.
The Plant Sale and Plant Show will be open to the public 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
The 2019 Southwest Region/American Begonia Society Get-Together in Austin
will be an exciting and memorable event. Make plans to attend.

Digital version of
Begonias Gesneriads
The Begonian. Rare Flowering Plants & Vines
Got Yours?
Are you receiving your digital version
of The Begonian? Make sure you have
supplied your email address to Mem-
bership Registrar, Linda Kammerer at
amerbegmembership@gmail.com

Are Your Dues Due?

Pay your dues online at:
www.begonias.org/membership/
Kartuz
membership
or mail to:
American Begonia Society Membership
Greenhouses
1408 Sunset Dr.
c/o Linda Kammerer; PO Box 6261; Provi- Dept. B, Vista, CA 92081-6531
dence, RI 02940 760-941-3613
Email Linda at amerbegmembership@gmail.com or Please visit our online catalog:
call Linda at 401-484-8854
*Digital only subscriptions list due date
in delivery emails
www.kartuz.com

10 The Begonian
 Potting, Mixes, and Fertilizing
Randy Montes Kerr, West Hollywood, CA

H ow do I pot up my Begonias?
Let's talk.
I like Pro-Mix, a composted, peat-
based potting mix to which I add
chunky, large perlite. Many prefer
Sunshine Mix, which is also very
good. Each comes in numerous
variations. A potting mix intended
for African Violets is often a good
choice. What one is looking for is a
light mix, without the kind of moldy
organic matter that would be great
outdoors in the garden, but not in a
begonia pot. Sometimes I add coir
chunks (not the small bits that look
like red coffee grounds) to my potting
mix. It is not heavy, has an appropri-
ate pH, and stays moist a bit longer
than my peat-based mix alone.
Composted peat is a very clean 1
product, slow to break down. The
down side is that, when completely
dry, it is hydrophobic. It may be necessary to submerge a totally dry potted plant, and wait several
minutes, in order to re-wet the roots. One can water a dry pot and have all the water run straight
out the bottom, the pot left no wetter than before. And feeling content, one walks away thinking
all is well. I have done this, doubtless more times than I know.
When initially mixing a bowl or bucket of dry potting mix (Fig 1) with water, a quick way to
moisten the stone dry peat is to use hot water. This may not be good, however, for the dormant
microbiome previously added to the potting mix to promote plant health. Patience is likely best.
I think White Shark Mycorrhizae is a helpful supplement. In nature, no plant lives alone. Each
plant lives with partnerships. Mycorrhizae extends the root system of plants. They trade soil
nutrients for sugars, which the plant provides. There are numerous brands of Mycorrhizae avail-
able. Google is your friend.
Clay pots (Fig 2) are usually best for begonias as they allow air to reach the roots through
the walls of the pots, and the root zone dries out faster. It’s harder to overwater plants in clay
pots. But, if you don’t care to spend so much time watering plants, plastic pots (Fig 3) are the
way to go. They don’t become much coated with unattractive salt buildup and they are easier
and faster to clean and disinfect. Though my popping a soaking wet clay pot in the microwave

vol 86 January/February 2019 11

for 3 or 4 minutes is also pretty
fast, and I doubt much survives.
I think one should make
sure to use appropriate fertil-
izers, and not too much. Some
species are quite sensitive to
rather modest nitrogen levels.
And in others, nitrogen, above a
low amount, inhibits flowering.
With begonias and fertilizer, less
is more. I learned these things
from reading academic articles.
When the nitrogen in a fertil-
izer is supplied in the form of
urea, the urea must be broken
down by microorganisms in
the medium before the nitro-
gen is available for plants. For
my “windowsill” potted bego-
nias, I use urea free fertilizer for
this reason. Otherwise, I think 2

the urea/nitrogen would often be

3 on warm days, with time for leaves
B. 'Merlot" (Fig 2) happily growing in a clay (terra cotta) pot.
B. U614 'sikkimensis' does well in a plastic pot.
Photos by Linda Tamblyn
12
washed though the pot before it is
broken down, assuming the right
wee beasties needed to do the work
are present in the needed billions. In
the garden, urea based nitrogen is
fine, because there is plenty of time
to break it down.
Not all fertilizers provide ample
micronutrients. This can be rem-
edied in a number of ways. The
quickest fix is foliar feeding. Foliar
feeding means misting, feeding the
leaves, top and bottom. Best done
to dry before evening. Best practice
often involves misting leaves with
1/10 strength fertilizer, or the amount
stated on the label for foliar feeding,
The Begonian
or better yet, one half the amount stated on the
label. For this, I use kelp extract, a good source
of micronutrients. Sometimes I water with kelp
extract. Another solution is adding rock dust
to the soil/potting mix. Azomite is well known
and widely used. (Amazon/EBay/Hydropon-
ics Stores/Nursery/Gardening supply stores.)
Three weeks each month, I water with a bal-
anced (15/15/15 or 20/20/20) quarter strength
fertilizer, meaning I use 1/4 the amount rec-
ommended on the label. I use a fertilizer mar-
keted for use with orchids. One week a month
I do not fertilize, to avoid salt buildup. By this
I mean mineral salts present in water and in
fertilizers, and some doubtless are the plant’s
waste products. All metabolism makes waste.
Also, to avoid salt buildup in the medium, I
make sure that 10–20% of the liquid, when
watering/fertilizing, flows out the bottom of
the pot. I buy turkey roasting pans from the
local restaurant supply store, aluminum, in-
tended for a single use. I use them to catch
the water that comes out of the pots. They
last about six months, and cost about $3.
Now, tell me - how do you do it?
Happy growing!

The Scent of Rain

A fter reading the previous article, I
thought I’d try using tepid water
to rehydrate some very hard clumps of
potting soil. Almost immediately that
evocative scent hit – the smell of rain on
dry ground. Recently, I stumbled onto a
perfect word describing the phenomenom.
The word, petrichor, is from Greek
petros, for “stone”, and ichor, which, according to Merriam-Webster, is "an ethereal fluid
taking the place of blood in the veins of the ancient Greek gods." Impressive! Named by a
pair of Australian researchers in the 1960’s, petrichor describes that heady smell of long-
awaited rain hitting parched earth.
Petrichor can be attributed to several things, like a bacteria in the soil that produces a molecule
called geosmin. Geosmin’s alluring fragrance has even been captured and bottled by the perfume
industry. Another contributor may be plant terpenes. Think of those strong aromas given off
by cedar, or rosemary, or oranges. As one might guess, thunderstorms associated with rain and
ozone, may also be a factor.
A Google search led me to a couple of excellent articles that I highly recommend. Most of this
information comes directly from the articles listed below. -Editor
Petrichor: why does rain smell so good?

by Mary Halton, Science reporter, BBC News

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-44904298

The Smell Of Rain: How CSIRO Invented A New Word

https://www.iflscience.com/environment/smell-rain-how-csiro-invented-new-word/

vol 86 January/February 2019 13

 Begonia Tissue Culture
and Micropropagation
Mohammad Sadegh Bagheri Ardabiliian, Ardabil, Iran

B
egonias can be propagated with seeds or leaf and stem cuttings - or with tissue
culture technique. Depending on what kind of begonia we want to propagate,
micropropagation is often the way we choose to propagate.
Not all begonias produce seeds, or they sometimes don’t come true from seeds. Also, not all
begonias can be propagated from leaf cuttings and some are not easy to propagate from stem
cuttings, like Begonia dregei types - at least not easy for me. But, we can propagate all of them
with tissue culture and, most of the time and theoretically, propagated plants will look exactly
like the original plant. However, somaclonal variation* in micropropagated plants can result in
new varieties that have different specifications compared with original plant.
Micropropagation is not for everybody who wants to propagate their begonia plants.
Not many choose this technique, due to the extra efforts and costs, but, if you want to
conserve rare species and hybrids, or hard to grow or propagate Begonias, you may toler-
ant the increased efforts and costs. You will be surprised with results that reward you with
more plants than you imagined.
I use tissue culture techniques for two different reasons. First is to propagate and grow
Begonias to sell. When I need healthy plantlets to grow for sale, tissue culture is my best
choice to get healthy and disease-free plants. The second reason is to rescue embryos
in incompatible crosses. With incompatible crosses, I take embryos from immature seed
pods and grow them in a nutrient rich, sterile medium.
I take the explants† from plants in my small greenhouse for tissue culture. Plants are
mostly infected with bacteria and fungus in greenhouse so, after surface sterilizing, I treat
them with a mixture of three antibiotics to kill any endogenous‡ bacteria that can’t be
killed with surface sterilizing. Then I culture explants in sterile nutrient rich medium with
hormones that induce cells to divide and produce lots of new micro shoots. Later, the
medium will be changed which helps shoots to root and grow into normal plants. After
the acclimation step, I plant them in the greenhouse in normal, sterile soil. I can use these
disease-free plants to grow new plants for sale or to replace any older or infected stock
plants. With tissue culture techniques, in a short time, I can produce many more plants
from a small 1x1 cm leaf disc than what can be produced from a large leaf using common
leaf cutting techniques. I can also propagate begonias with seeds that can’t be imported
due to trade sanctions, like Begonia 'Gryphon'.
*
Somaclonal variation is the variation seen in plants that have been produced by plant tissue
culture. Chromosomal rearrangements are an important source of this variation. (Wikipedia)

†
A cell, organ, or piece of tissue that has been transferred from animals or plants to a nutrient medium.
(Wikipedia)

‡
Having an internal cause or origin. (Wikipedia)

14 The Begonian
 2
1

4
3

6
5

Fig 1-3 Multiple shoots on each petiole disc

Fig 3 Regeneration from the leaf disc
Fig 4 & 5 Newly propagated leaf disc starting
to produce mass of shoots
Fig 6 Plantlets in medium growing to
plantable size
Fig 7 Use of tissue culture techniques in
breeding. Seedlings germinate in sterile
medium. These seeds are from interspecific
crosses that don't germinate normally in soil. 7

vol 86 January/February 2019 15

 1

16 The Begonian
 3

Begonias
Down Under
Joe Romeo, Prospect, South Australia

The leaf size of my new hybrid (Fig 1)

measures about 11" x 8". l have named it B.
‘Rexual’ because of its similarities with B. rex.
Another of my new hybrids, which l named B.
‘Matt Coulter’ after the head Gardener at Mt.
Lofty Botanic Gardens, South Australia. He
has become interested in cultivating my B. rex
hybrids since I introduced him to the beauty
of Begonia and their crosses B. sizemoreae
(Fig 3) that was acclimatized to my courtyard
garden, while others were growing it in
terrariums. It competes for attention with this
colorful Streptocarpus (Fig 4).
4

vol 86 January/February 2019 17

Threatened and Endangered Begonias at
the Fort Worth Botanical Garden
Don Miller, Dallas, TX

B. froebelii (Fig 1) is endemic to the Andes Mountains of Ecuador.

18 The Begonian
 T
he International Union for Con-
servation of Nature (IUCN)
Red List of Threatened Species
is recognized as the authority for evaluat-
ing the conservation status of plants and
animals. Their goal is to identify particu-
lar species at risk of extinction. The Red
List classifies these species in order, of
concern of endangerment, starting with
those of least concern then elevating to,
near threatened, vulnerable, endangered,
critically endangered, extinct in the wild,
to extinct.
There are 64 Begonia species listed as
threatened on the IUCN Red List. One is
thought to be extinct. That is Begonia eiro-
mischa, the Wooly-stalked Begonia. It was
endemic to the Malaysian Island of Penang,
where forests have been cleared for farm-
steads. It has not been seen for 100 years.
The goal of the Fort Worth Botanic
Garden in Fort Worth, Texas is to con-
serve Begonia species. We grow about
400 species and hundreds of cultivars.
We now grow seven Red Listed Threat-
ened species. They are as follows:
Begonia froebelii (Fig 1) is a tuber-
ous species endemic to the Andes Moun-
tains of Ecuador. It is not known to occur
in any protected areas. It is threatened
by road construction and deforestation
related to colonization. This species has
large, single red flowers and blooms from
November to March in the collection
greenhouses. It goes dormant in May and
returns in October. We leave the tubers in
the pots and reduce the watering through
dormancy. We continue to water when
new growth appears in October. This is
its growth cycle in our hot summers. It
may have a different dormancy in cool
vol 86 January/February 2019
summer areas. B. froebelii is classified as
near threatened.
B. hemsleyana (Fig 2) is native to
Yunnan and Guangxi, China and North
Vietnam. It is an upright rhizomatous
species, and has a medium sized, green,
palmately compound leaf. The flowers
are pink. There is also an attractive varie-
gated form in cultivation with silver spots
on the leaves. This was at one time grown
under the unidentified species number of
U404. They prefer cooler temperatures in
the summer. It is threatened in its habitat
by deforestation for agriculture and
timber. It is listed as vulnerable.
B. ludwigii (Fig 3) is endemic to the
Chimborazo Province of Ecuador and
not known to occur in any protected
areas. Its habitat is in the coastal and
low Andean forests (530 to 2,000m.). It
is thick-stemmed, with most of the lobed
leaves dropping in the winter. When semi
dormant it should be kept fairly dry. It
blooms in the spring with white flowers.
It is listed as endangered due to habitat
destruction for pasture and cropland.
B. lugonis (Fig 4) is endemic to
Ecuador, in Pastaza and Morona-Santi-
ago Provinces. Its habitat is in the low
Andean forests (700 to 1,000m) along
streams, growing in soil. We grow it in a
terrarium in the greenhouse. The rugose
leaves are black and covered with hairs.
The flowers are pink. Its habitat is disap-
pearing because of logging and forest de-
struction for farming and ranching. It is
listed as vulnerable.
B. microsperma (Fig 5) is a yellow
flowered rhizomatous species from Cam-
eroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Its
habitat is lowland forests (130-980m)
19
2 3

5
 growing near water on spray soaked sur-
faces and in soil. In cultivation it is usually
grown in a terrarium or highly humid
greenhouse. We grow it in both a sphag-
num and perlite mix (4 parts to 1 part) and
a peat based soil mix. It blooms sporadi-
cally with large yellow flowers. Its habitat
is impacted by iron-ore mining. Its status
is vulnerable.
B. montis-elephantis (Fig 6) is another
yellow flowered species. It is endemic to
Cameroon, Africa. It grows on wet rocks
and cliffs where water splashes on it, near
the summit of Mt. Elephant at about 270
m. This species is usually grown in a ter-
rarium and thrives in high humidity. It will
root from a rhizome tip or a leaf cutting. It
is also said to root from a leaf when the tip
of the leaf touches the growing medium.
B. salaziensis is a shrub-like begonia
endemic to Mauritius, an island nation
in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar.
t grows in the montane tropical rain
forest near waterfalls
on humus and is rarely
epiphytic. The leaves
are green and the flowers
white. It has an unusual
orange, berry-like fruit.
It grows easily in the
greenhouse but suffers a

B. hemsleyana (Fig 2),

this is the variegated form,
formerly known as B. U404.
B. ludwigii (Fig 3) is a thick-
stemmed that goes semi-
dormant in the winter.
B. lugonis (Fig 4) is endemic
to Ecuador.
B. microsperma (Fig
5) has large yellow
4 flowers and grows on the
west coast of Africa.
21
 Farewell to Our Friend Jacky

J
acky Duruisseau, Bois,
France, was a very special
and respected Begonia
explorer. His many travels to
seek out new Begonias took him
to South America and especially
Africa. Sadly, Jacky lost a battle
with cancer in November 2018.
His contributions to Begonias
will be profoundly missed as well
as his generosity to those around 1
the world who love these plants.

Jacky on one of his many expeditions. (Fig 1)

A new species from Madagascar. (Fig 2)
Jacky tantalized us with his beautiful photographs, like this one of Begonia anisoptera. (Fig 3)
The charm of Jacky’s accounts of his trips was the lively way he included the realities of
expeditions, including leeches, pristine waterfalls (Fig 4) dangerous ants, surprising finds, and
miles and miles of challenging and muddy roads (Fig 5).

Threatened and Endangered Begonias

continued from pg 21

little in the heat of summer. It is

considered critically endangered.
But conservation is in progress at
the National Park Conservation
service in Mauritius. Begonia
species need to be conserved.
And that is done by growing
them, propagating them, and
sharing them. The rare ones that
require high humidity can be
grown easily in a terrarium.
Debbie Garrett, curator of the
collection, and her volunteers are
growing these rare species. You
6
will see them available at the
Southwest Region Convention in
B. montis-elephantis (Fig 6) grows near the summit of Mt.
Elephant in Cameroon. Austin, Texas in May, 2019.
B. salaziensis (Fig 7 on front cover) has white flowers
and a yellow berry-like fruit.
22 The Begonian
 2

5 4

vol 86 January/February 2019 23

 Companion Plants
Holiday
Cactus
Linda Tamblyn, Merriam, KS
D uring the holidays, I
see them everywhere
– grocery stores, big box
stores, IKEA, and even in tiny
2” pots covered in blooms at a
thrift store. And, those blooms
are their claim to fame. These
plants have such a showy blossom that
another common name is Orchid cactus.
Yep, those are the ones also called holiday
cactus – Thanksgiving, Christmas, and
Easter to be specific.
Over the years I've bought, and prompt-
ly killed, dozens of these beauties. For
a long time, I tried to grow them like a
tropical plant – plenty of light, warmth,
and water. If they grew, they were usually
spindly creatures that never set a bud.
Very disappointing. Practicing what I was
reading about the plant, I went to great
lengths to keep it in 12 hours of darkness
in the fall. At one point, I even put together
a blackout box to set over the plant every
24
2
night to ensure it didn’t get a single drop
of light. Still, no luck. Eventually I gave
up, thinking them too hard for a hobby
grower and better left to the giant, profes-
sional greenhouse growers. They fell into
a category I labeled as “gift plant” which
meant they would get tossed shortly after
the last blossom fell. The problem with
my theory was I would see them in other
people’s homes exploding with bloom,
and these were obviously plants that they
had been growing for years.
Then my friend Nina came into the
picture. A German citizen who moved to
the States while her husband completed a
job assignment. Nina had a lovely Christ-
The Begonian
 mas cactus which she had wrapped in
newspaper and packed into her suitcase for
the trip to America. She potted it back up
and positioned it on a kitchen shelf near a
west window. That first winter, I saw her
plant bloom, not once, but twice! What
was the secret?
At first, I thought it must be the extra
warmth gained from a warm window
and the heat and humidity of a well-used
kitchen. It certainly wasn’t getting regular
12-hour stints of darkness though as my
friends were night owls and spent many
late nights in the kitchen with the lights
blazing. Then one day Nina told me some-
thing that clicked. Every night before going
to bed, no matter how frigid it might be
outside, they turned the heat off complete-
3 ly until morning. I wondered – did setting
bloom have more to do with a temperature
drop than with light? I know that many of
the spiny desert cactus require a cold, dry
rest before they will bloom. Hmmm. With
new determination, I purchased a few sale
plants from the scratch and dent table at
my local nursery and decided to try some-
thing completely different.
When spring came, I moved the plants
outside to a place with filtered, but very
bright, light. I had always pampered them,
never putting them outside for fear they
would overheat or sunburn. The summers
here in Kansas can be brutally hot and
4 humid. To my surprise, and delight, the

Holiday cactus, in a palette of colors (Fig 1), fill retail shops as the weather gets chilly.
Schlumbergera truncata, the Thanksgiving cactus (Fig 2)
A shell pink blossom on this Christmas cactus (Fig 3) is only one of a variety of colors possible
including magenta, yellow, coral, pink, white, orange, red as well as combinations of those colors.
A close relative of the Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus, the Easter cactus, Rhipsalidopsis
gaetneri (Fig 4), is a little more difficult to grow, but can reward the grower with two flushes of
bloom each year.

vol 86 January/February 2019 25

plants started to grow and looked very
happy. Sometimes I was negligent and
waited a little too long to water. They
would look shriveled but bounced back
as soon as they soaked up some moisture.
As summer came to an end and a fall chill
begin to move in, I left them out to experi-
ence the greater temperature fluctuations.
I was careful about protecting them from
rain, since my new theory included a dry
rest similar to the other cactus I grow.
When the thermometer dropped into the
40’s at night, I brought the plants inside
and put them in a cool spot under lights
and near a slightly drafty window.
And, after so long of only admiring
5
plants someone else had brought into
bloom, I saw the first tiny buds forming on
my own plants!
Now, these jungle cacti can always be
found in my plant collection. What an in-
spiration it was to finally find success with
a plant that had previously so eluded me.
The holiday cactus are three different
plants whose bloom schedules correspond
with their common name. Thanksgiving
cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) gener-
ally bloom sometime between October
and December. Mine opens its blooms re-
liably about a week before Thanksgiving.
6

The specialized leaves of holiday cactus are

called phylloclades. The claw-like projections
on the segment tips (Fig 5) are a distinguishing
feature of the Thanksgiving cactus.
A Christmas cactus does have scalloped
edges (Fig 6) on the phylloclades, but it
lacks the dentate projections present on the
Thanksgiving cactus.
Rhipsalidopsis gaetneri can be identified by the
wiry brown hairs growing from its areoles (Fig 7).
Schlumbergera truncata likes a cool, dry rest to
initiate bloom, but then makes a good companion
for begonias and other tropicals (Fig 8).
7

26 The Begonian
Known also as the crab claw cactus for
the little “pincher-like” appendages on
the tips of the leaves (phylloclades),
which is something to look for in the
difficult task of deciding which Sch-
lumbergera you are looking at. Many
of the fantastically colored ones are
often hybrids between other Schlum-
bergera, making it even more difficult
to figure out.
Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera
bridgesii) lack the dentate leaf
structures in Thanksgiving cactus
and are more likely to bloom from
December through February. They,
in my experience, are more prone
to random bloom times, sometimes
surprising me with two consecutive
bloom cycles. And, I find the more
rootbound the plant is, the more
blooms it produces. 8
Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaet-
neri) has a controversial taxonomy. It can right by my cane begonias, under light
be found with the genus listed as Schlum- shading. They then stay outside in the fall
bergera, Hatiora, Epiphyllum and Rhip- until the temperatures start to drop just
salidopsis. The species name is usually below 40°F at night. Once inside they get a
gaetneri, so that helps a little. Of the three cool, bright spot and very little water until
plants, this is my favorite. Flowers are less they begin to show buds. When the plant
tubular than the other two holiday cactus, goes completely dry, I water it thoroughly
and are starburst shaped and smaller. The making sure it drains completely.
color ranges from lilac-pink to bright red. These plants come from mountainous
While all the holiday cactus are virtually forests mostly in Brazil. Growing on trees
spineless, this plant does have attractive, or rocks ensures they maintain excellent
dark hairs growing from the areoles. This drainage. Clay pots work well for home
is one that still stymies me, though. Too growers adding needed weight and excel-
many have succumbed to rot right before lent drainage. The plants don't like wet
my eyes. It's fine one minute, mush the feet. Propagation is easy with a Y-shaped
next. Evidently, if they grow big enough section of stem.
to become potbound, they become easier These holiday cacti can live for genera-
to maintain. That’s my goal. tions and are often passed down in a family.
In the summer the plants go outside, And, they grow beautifully with begonias.
vol 86 January/February 2019 27
 In Memoriam:
Brad Thompson
Walter Dworkin, Westbury, NY

It is with deep sadness that I report the passing

of Brad Thompson on Oct 25, 2018. The news
that we have lost such a dedicated ABS member and
hybridizer was very shocking.
I first met Brad at the 1992 convention in Anaheim,
CA where he served as placement chairman, at that
point we had both only been involved with hybridiz-
ing canes for a few years. It was amazing to share ex-
Brad Thompson periences and wisdom. As time went on, Brad began
hybridizing rhizomatous Begonias. Brad’s very first
cane hybrid was B. ‘Castaway’ named in 1990. According to the List of Begonia Hybrids
by Howard Berg, in 2005 Brad had created at least 360 hybrids. In the 13 years following,
Brad went on to create an abundance of canes, many of which I am proud to say are in my
personal collection. Brad also created many lovely rhizomatous hybrids and other crosses.
Brad, together with Jeanne Jones and others, founded the Palos Verde Branch in the
1980s. He was also a member of the Westchester and Orange County Branches. Over the
years, Brad was the editor of The Begonian and numerous newsletters. He created the
form and Handbook for Registering Begonia Hybrids. The Alfred D. Robinson award went
to Brad four times for his hybrids: B. 'Mary Sakamoto' 2000, B. 'Little Miss Mummey'
2001, B. 'Black Gold' 2004, and B. 'River Nile' 2007. The very first yellow cane, named
B. 'Mellow Yellow', was one of Brad’s most notable achievements. He worked at Hi-Mark
Nursery until it closed and then moved to Kartuz Nursery to continue creating beautiful
Begonias for all of us to enjoy.
Brad loved giving seminars and propagation workshops so everyone could learn how to
grow their best Begonias. He would open his personal garden to other gardeners and, es-
pecially during conventions, for ABS members to see and discuss his hybridization work.
Brad’s Begonia World, authored by Brad, is one of the best begonia books on the market
today, and in my opinion is a bible and a must have for all growers. He was hailed by the
Westchester Branch as a convention hero in 1999 where his art work, booklets, and regis-
trations made the show a huge success.
We have lost a truly talented creative hybridizer and artist. Brad will be very much
missed and his absence will be felt for many years to come.
Note: I would to thank Mary Sakamoto for all her help with this article. I also want to thank
Jan Brown and the ABS Westchester Branch, where we are in the process of forming a Begonia
Hybrid Preservation committee so future generations can enjoy our Begonias. If anyone has any
of Brad’s earlier hybrids and they would be willing to share, please contact us at pixieproud@aol.
com. The plan is to use cuttings which will then be propagated and given to the Begonia Bank
and other reliable growers, so the plants can be put back into circulation. Please help us preserve
these amazing hybrids. Thank you.

28 The Begonian
 1

A sampling of Brad's wonderful hybrids.

B. 'Alice's White Rabbit' (Fig 1)
2 B. 'Fabrege' (Fig 2)
B. 'Aunt Edith' (Fig 3)
vol 86 January/February 2019 29
 1

The Buxton Branch

Celebrates 80th Birthday
By Betsy Szymczak, Natick, MA

O n Saturday October 6, members celebrated

Buxton’s 80th birthday with a special tour of
Logee’s Greenhouses in Danielson CT.
Members toured through the main production facil-
ity, and related greenhouses. Following the greenhouse
2
tour and a short drive to Woodstock, CT, members
enjoyed a delicious lunch at The Inn at Woodstock Hill
followed by birthday cake. Attending the celebration were long-time Buxton members
Wanda and Dick Macnair and two of Buxton’s newest members Julie Hagan and Patrick
Alderson. Linda Kammerer, Judy
Gibian, Mary Beth Hayes and Rick
Fadden joined sisters – Phyllis
and Pat Savage along with Stuart
Hammer and Susan Starr, Himan-
shu and Jashiree Oberoi and Ralph
and Betsy Szymczak who rounded
3
out the party.
Production greenhouse (Fig 1), from l to r, Rick Fadden, Phyllis Savage, Wanda Macnair, Dick
Macnair, and staff begonia-grower Desiree Nordby.
The Begonia boliviensis 'San Francisco' flowers and leaves that decorate Buxton's birthday cake
were from a plant Betsy Szymczak grew from seed.
Buxton members had no trouble filling their boxes with plants to celebrate. (Fig 3)
30 The Begonian
vol 86 January/February 2019 31
 2018 The Begonian Index
ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Flaherty, Mike 114, 174
Gale, Cutis 107
Boyajian, Craig 29, 161–162, 206
Goodridge, Claudia 28
Bridon, Colette 18–23, 40
Henthorne, Charles 173
Chapman, Suzzanne 12
Higson, Michael 66
Ding, You-Fang 212–217
Holley, Freda 25, 64, 124, 136, 168, 211
Dong, Wen-Ke 58–62, 185–189
Hunt, Gary 154
Duruisseau, Jacky 18–23, 40–41, 50–51, 82,122,
Jian, Albert Sng Chay 148
153, 156, 169, 227, 228
Jordan, Pablo 107
Dworkin, Walter 48–49, 81, 86–88
Kammerer, Linda 130
Flaherty, Michael 174–175
Kerr, Randy Montes 14, 55, 90, 134, 152
Henthorne, Charles 37, 172, 238
Langenberg, Amy 73
Holley, Freda 1, 5, 25, 64,169
Lenert, Cheryl 126
Hughes, Mark 187
Maciejewski, Stephen 92
Hunt, Gary 114
Malek, Aliaa Athirah Adam 99
Jian, Albert Sng Chay 148–150
McMahan, Scott 179
Kerr, Randy Montes 4, 14, 26–27, 44, 55–57,
Miller, Don 71
152, 154
Miller, Vera 71
Leaphart, Laura 105
Moran, Cindy 7, 8
Lin, Che-Wei 185
Purinton, Priscilla 10, 48, 86–87
Lloyd, Peter 12
Savelle, Sally 4, 44, 124, 164, 204
Ludwig, Michael 188
Schoellhorn, Rick 218
Lui, Yan 163
Sena, Dale 170
Maciejewski, Stephen 92–98
Stewart, Bob 130
Malek, Aliaa Athirah Adam 99, 102–104
Sturgeon, Walt 224
McCorquodale, Malcolm 121, 138–143
Symczak, Betsy 68, 144, 228
McMahan, Scott 179–183
Sytch, Greg 9
Moran, Cindy 47
Tamblyn, Linda 73, 112
Norton, Darrin 29
Tebbitt, Mark 107
Phutthai, Thamarat 187
Williams, Reece 138
Ponder, Chris 232
Zinn, Johanna 16, 52
Rahman, Rafidah Abdul 99
Romeo, Joe 168
INDIVIDUALS
Schoellhorn, Rick 201, 203, 218–224
Sembukuttiarachchi, Dinesh 188 Ackerman, Lynn 68
Sena, Dale 170–171 Alteri, Nick 230
Stewart, Bob 131 Anderson, Tim 164
Sturgeon, Walt 203, 224, 240 Appleton, Donna 232
Suhaimi, Syahida Emiza 100–101 Ardi, Wisnu 92
Tamblyn, Linda 169 Belka, Ernie 139, 142
Tian, Dai-Ke 58–62 Berlant, Sally 232
Utzig, Gloria 68–69, 228–231 Beverin, Donna 178
Blanc, Patrick 173, 203
Wang, Wen-Guang 60–61 Bolwell, Ross 127
Wang, Zhong-Xuan 60–61 Bombarely, Aureliano 59
Wiseman, Jem 2, 42, 89, 160, 224 Brown, Janet 7
Yang, Chih-Kai 185, 188 Bucholtz, Mary 4
Zinn, Johanna 16, 52–54 Burt-Utley, K 221
Cai, Bang-Ping 62
AUTHORS Carberry, Ann 232
Chedra, Margaret 65 Carlisle, Laurel 114
Ding, You-Fang 212 Carlisle, Paul 114
Dong, Wen-Ke 58, 184 Carpenter, Janet 127, 139, 142
Douglas, Daja 107 Carroll, Marlene 232
Duruisseau, Jacky 18, 50 Chung, Kuo-Fang 62
Dworkin, Walter 235 Cole, Bob 164

32 The Begonian
Corby, Wendy 232 Monroe, Barbara 232
Dawn, Victor 124 Moonlight, Peter 62
Dong, Wen-Ke 217 Moran, Cindy 7, 84–85, 138–139, 142–143, 154
Drescher, Frances 7 Nguyen, Quang Hieu 58
Dufresne, Normand 6 Norton, Darrin 166, 228
Dworkin, Walter 7, 10, 48, 235 Norton, Lee 232
Evans, Stacy 232 Notaras, Carol 6
Fadden, Rick 147 Notaras, Peter 6
Farster, Wanda 232 Oberoi, Himanshu 230
Flaherty, Mike 84, 154 Parr, Diane 157
Fu, Naifeng 176 Peng, Ching-I 126, 163, 184–189, 200
George, Kim 232 Phutthai, Thamarat 189
Georgusis, Jim 84, 123, 139 Pitman, Derick 232
Griffith, Virgil 157 Price, Bobbie 137, 141–142
Guan, Kai-Yun 130 Pridgen, Doug 84, 139, 141–142
Haley, Nora 232 Purinton, Priscilla 6
Hall, Mary 232 Radbouchoom, Sirilak 62
Hannah, Megan 218 Regimbal, Elda 235
Hayes, Mary Beth 68, 144, 228 Romeo, Joe 168
Heims, Dan 222 Rose, Stephanie 7
Hoefnagels, Antoon 154, 221 Rubite, Rosario 7, 58, 187
Holley, Freda 84, 85, 87, 143, 164 Salisbury, Anna Lee 156
Hollingsworth, Dennis 232 Savelle, Sally 6, 43, 147
Hopper, Curtis 232 Saxton, Monika 139, 142
Hu, Xiao-Jian 130 Schwerdtfeger, Louis 64
Hughes, Mark 58, 189, 203 Sembukuttiarachchi, Dinesh 4, 154
Hunt, Gary 115 Servant, Lise 218
Hyndman, Scott 145 Sherman, Jocelyn 68, 144, 228
Jara-Muñoz, Orlando Adolfo 62 Shui, Yu-Min 59
Jaros, Charles 4, 6, 44, 46, 126, 170–171 Slaw, Martin 217
Jiew-Hoe, Tan 97 Stewart, Bob 126
Johnson, JJ 232 Stewart, Dee 126
Keepin, Tom 7, 127 Stringham, Julie 232
Kerr, Randy Montes 4, 26, 127 Symczak, Betsy 68, 144, 228, 230
Ketler, Virginia 48, 86 Sytch, Greg 48
Kidner, Catherine 59 Tebbitt, Mark 6
Kiew, Ruth 17, 59, 62 Tentis, Mike 232
Kollmann, Ludovic 6 Thomas, Daniel 96
Ku, Snin-Ming 186 Thompson, Brad 71, 87, 166, 235
Kuder, Lucy 68, 228 Tian, Dai-Ke 7, 59, 62, 176, 217
Lambert, Bonnie 68, 228 Tong, Yi 176
Langenberg, Kingsley 72–73, 123 Tourville, Judy 232
Leaphart, Laura 232 Tsamtsis, Paul 232
Li, Qingqing 176 Ulrich, Susan 69
Liac, Chun 176 Utley, J. F. 221
Lin, Che-Wei 189 Van Wyk, Christina 6
Ludwig, Michael 189 Wang, Wen-Guang 58
Lui, Yan 16, 185–187, 189, 217 Wheeler, Dennis 114–115, 138
Maciejewski, Stephen 189 White, Tiffany 115
Mack, Mike 144, 147 Wiener, Bernie 6
Macnair, Richard 84, 126, 144 Wilkerson, Dianna 6, 25
Macnair, Wanda 84, 126, 144 Wilkerson, Kenny 6
Maley, Pat 139, 142 Xiao, Yan 176
McFadden, Rick 144 Yang, Li-Hua 130
McGough, Charles 166 Zhang, Shou-Zhou 62, 217
Messer, Dave 6 Ziesenhenne, Rudolf 73, 114
Miller, Don 4, 154, 209 Zinn, Johanna 7, 68, 164, 228
Miller, Nancy 232
Miller, Vera 6

vol 86 January/February 2019 33

BEGONIAS hatacoa 29
henrilaportei 50
Species
heracleifolia 164
acerifolia 218
heyeroclinis 94
aggeloptera 24
hispidissima 94
amphioxus 2
hongkongensis 56
ampla 105
horticola 219
angularis 64
humilicaulis 94
anisoptera 226
imperialis 162
anisosepala 24
insularum 94
antsiranensis 131–132
integerrima 29, 222–221
arborensis 176
johnstonii 28–29
atricha 80, 55–57
koksunii 16–17
augustae 219, 222
labordei 176
aurantiflora 62
lacunosa 18–19, 226
austrotaiwanensis 82
lancangensis 165, 198
baccata 24
lanceolata 105
baik 122, 172–173, 227–228
lasioura 95
barsalouxiae 105
leprosa 145
beccarii 90
longifolia 176
bipinnatifida 142
longipetiolata 203
blancii 148–149, 172–173, 201
lukuana 165, 198
bogneri 109, 142
luxurians 115
boliviensis 69, 109
luzonensis 105, 123, 142
bowerae 109
lyallii 105
burkillii 123, 160
lyman-smithii 165, 198, 203, 221
capanemae 222
macintyreana 94
cathayana 222
mananjebensis 41
chiasmogyna 94
mannii 227
chingipengii 187
masarangensis 94
chloroneura 105
masoalaensis 50, 105
chlorosticta 55–56, 142
masoniana 219
cinnabarina 109–110
mendumiae 94
cirrosa 176
microsperma 109
coccinea 86, 168–169
mildbraedii 19, 22–23
compacta 64
montaniformis 165, 198
coriacea 109
nigritarum 89
crassicaulis 126
nobmanniae 95
crispula 5
nosymangabensis 50
cubensis 109
oaxacana 109
cuneatifolia 94
obliqua 29
cylindrica 176
oxyloba 152–154, 227
debaoensis 62
oxysperma 218
decora 219
partita 137, 142
dewildei 23–24
paulensis 202, 210
dregei 75
pengii 126, 163, 186–187, 200
elaeagnifolia 105
platycarpa 62
elatostemmoides 23, 40, 134–135
polilloensis 105, 148–149
erminea 51
polygonoides 105, 141–142
erthrogyna 226
prismatocarpa 109
fangii 61
pteridiformis 56
ferox 43, 52–54
pteridioides 50
foliosa 142
pulchrifolia 176
galeolepis 97
puspitae 92–94, 98, 120
gambutensis 98
pustulata 162
gemella 94
quadrialata 109
glabra 154
rex 165, 198
goegoensis 105
roseopunctata 43
grandis subsp. evansiana 238
roxburghii 168

34 The Begonian
rubida 227 ‘Fudor’ 161, 163
rubriflora 109 ‘Grandma’ 73, 160
scapigera 109 ‘Gray Feather’ 64
scharffii 6 ‘Guardian Angel’ 7
scutifolia 19, 21–24 ‘Gun Metal’ 165, 198
sendangensis 83, 97 ‘Harmony’s Stormy Sunset’ 165, 198
sinofloribunda 61 ‘Honeycomb’ 48
sizemoreae 165, 198 ‘Hugh Mclaughlin’ 139, 141–142
soli-mutata 105, 150 ‘Iris Shepherd’ 73
squarrosa 56 ‘Jamboree’ 83, 86–88
subacida 163, 169 ‘JimWyrtzen’ 10
sudjanae 56, 148–149 ‘Juanita Jewel’ 83
sykakiengii 148–149 ‘Judy Cook’ 3, 12
taiwaniana f. albomaculata 165, 198 ‘Kentwood’ 86
taliensis 228, 231 ‘Kit Jeans Mounger’ 165, 198
teuscheri 219 ‘Lana’ 167, 230–231
thiemei 206 ‘Lenore Olivier’ 71
thomeana 24 ‘Little Brother Montgomery’ 61
tigrina 83, 99–104 ‘Little Miss Mummey’ 235
U074 139, 142 ‘Looking Glass’ 157
U496 105 ‘Lospe-tu’ 2
U508 1, 25 ‘Merlot’ 138, 143, 198
U512 165, 198 ‘Morocco’ 142
U604 105 ‘Mr. Hunt’ 174
U633 44 ‘Mrs H. G. Moon’ 222
U648 4 ‘Mrs Miller’ 71
vankerckhovenii 42, 139, 142 ‘My Good Friend’ 84, 142
wilksii 18, 24 ‘My Special Angel’ 7
xingyiensis 176 ningmingensis ‘Ningming Silver’ 7
‘Nocturna’ 48–49
Cultivars
‘Nola’ 139
‘Alfreana’ 222
‘Oteka’ 25
‘Angel Glow’ 127
‘Peridot’ 71
‘Apple Jack’ 7
‘Salsa’ 221, 222
‘Aubrey Brenda’ 48
‘Shaun’s Dream’ 37
‘Autumn Ember’ 157
‘Silver Jewel’ 150, 162
‘Benigo’ 142
‘Tall Paul’ 7
‘Bill Byron’ 114
‘Thurstonii’ 144
‘Billie Jean’ 81, 83
‘Tiger Kitten’ 145
‘Boomer’ 85, 138
‘Tio Glow’ 115
‘Carmel Browne’ 7, 127
‘Torch’ 84, 121, 139
‘Cathedral’ 165, 198
‘Valida’ 157
‘Chivalry’ 165, 198
‘Veins of Fire’ 168
‘Christmas Candy’ 19
‘Wanda Macnair’ 165, 198
‘Comtesse Louise Erdody’ 222–223
‘White Ice’ 165, 198
‘Cool Breeze Pewter’ 222–223
‘Winter Illusion’ 143
‘Cracklin’ Rosie’ 38
‘Withlacoochee’ 68
‘Curly California’ 139, 142
grandis ‘Fan Xing’ 7
‘Diane Parr’ 157
‘Eagleshamm’ 219, 222 Other Plants
‘Earth Angel’ 3, 10
Arisaema consanguineum 180
‘Edna Regimbacker’ 235
Dorstenia 163, 197
‘Elda May’ 235
gigas 190–192
‘Elda Regimbal’ 235
lancifolia 190–192
‘Enchantment Areola’ 71
foetida 190–193
‘Enchanto’ 71
lavrani 190–192
‘Escargot’ 69
Ficus pumila ‘Quercifolia’ 105
‘Fedor’ 221–222, 230–231
Hydrangea aff. aspera 108
‘Fire Flush’ 147
Leucocoprinus birnbaumii 224
‘Flamingo Queen’ 142
Tagetes lemmonii 66
vol 86 January/February 2019 35
Those Majestic Begonias, Growing and
Hybridizing the Upright Rhizomatous
Begonias, by Freda Holley, 2017. This
lovely book premiered at the Convention
in San Antonio and sold out. But the next
printing is ready for you. The front cover is
a picture of magnificent B. ‘Rudy’, one of
the most beautiful of these stately begonias.
Picture by Julie Vanderwilt of her plant.
The book is 54 pages with many pictures. A
must-have for anyone who “loves and grows
begonias”.
Domestic: $15.00
International: $25.00
Species Begonias Of The Eastern Himalayas
Of Arunachal, India by Dr. Rekha Morris,
Feb. 2017, Published by The Dr. Cecilia
Koo Botanic Conservation & Environmental
Protection Foundation, Taiwan. Rekha spoke
at the September Convention in Los Angeles
about this book. It is a description of species
collected by Rekha on her many trips to
India and Arunachal. Beautiful pictures and
descriptions of begonia species.
Domestic: $35.00
International: $55.00
The Invisible Begonia: An Introduction to
Begonia Genetics with My Experiences in
their Use in Hobby Hybridizing. By Freda
Holley, August 2016. Freda introduced
this amazing book at her seminar at the
convention, Sept. 2016. You will learn
how she creates her stunning hybrids,
and see the beautiful results in many full
color photos. This is the third book in her
hybridizing series and a ‘must have’ for
beginning & established hybridizers as
well as collectors. Proceeds go to the ABS
Millie Thompson Publication Fund.
Domestic: $25.00
International: $35.00
Begonias of the Month. Written by ABS
members. Compiled by Wendy Corby,
2015, 116 color pages sponsored by the
Sacramento Branch and published through
the ABS’s Thelma O’Reilly Reprint Fund.
This booklet is a compilation of monthly
36
write-ups by ABS members from 2000
through 2010.
Begonias of the Month includes a variety
of begonias with information on the plant’s
origin and growing tips from that grower’s
experiences and locale.
Domestic: $20.00
International: $30.00
The first new ABS pin in many years
is now available. It was designed and
produced by Cheryl Lenert. Surprise and
delight begonia lovers on your list with
this beautiful pin.
$5.00
Brad’s Begonia World by Brad Thompson.
A compendium of Brad Thompson’s
web page. Edited and compiled by
Wendy Corby, 2015, 189 color pages
with photographs, published through the
ABS’s Thelma O’Reilly Reprint Fund.
The first section is on the different types
of begonias. The second section is on the
growing and care of begonias. The book
is a wonderful set of articles to provide
begonia enthusiasts with information and
delight them with incredible full color
photographs of your favorite begonias.
Domestic: $35
International: $55
Understanding Begonia by Samuel Kennedy,
Photographs & Art Work by Elizabeth
Kennedy
Published in the United Kingdom, 2015,
ISBN #978-0-9932897, 95 pages, full color
photographs. First half of the book covers
begonia history, types, sections, growing,
fertilizing. Second half is devoted to
growing tuberous begonias. A glorious book
containing valuable information from the
Jack Golding archives. Samuel & Elizabeth
Kennedy were given the Eva Kenworthy Gray
Award for this book at the recent convention
in California.
Domestic: $20.00
International: $30.00
The Begonian
ABS Bookstore
Begonia Note Cards featuring Begonias
of Borneo found in the new Ruth Kiew
book.
Domestic: $15.00
International: $25.00
Begonia Hybridizing: By the Hybridizers,
Edited by Freda Holley, published through
the Millie Thompson Publication Fund,
March 2013.
This great new book by Freda Holley is
filled with articles written by some of
our most famous, prolific and successful
hybridizers. It is a philosophy of
hybridizing divided into three parts and
includes articles by Ross Bolwell, Walter
Dworkin, Freda Holley, Gregory Sytch,
Chuck Ades, Brad Thompson, Patrick
Worley and Rudolf Ziesenhenne. The
pictures are many and stunning.
Domestic: $21.00
International $26.00, includes postage.
Tuberous Begonias and How to Grow
Them by Howard Siebold, 1998, published
with the support of the ABS Millie
Thompson Publication Fund. Library
of Congress Catalog Card No. 98-74824
ISBN: 0-9628251-2-3 $15.00
Begonia Hybridizing: A Primer by Freda
M. Holley, 2007. An invaluable source
book for the beginning or advanced
begonia hybridizer. $15.00
Unidentified Species Listing, Update,
August 2012
By Mary Bucholtz & Charles Jaros, Co-
Directors. Second Edition includes U
Numbers 001 through 621. Loose leaf
format for easy addition of new material.
Notebook not included.
Domestic: $33.00
International: $42.00
B. U 604-621 to add to the August, 2010
Unidentified Species Listing
$ 7.00
vol 86 January/February 2019
Raising Cane: Experiences in Growing the
Species Cane Begonias
by Freda M. Holley. A wonderful work on
the cane species with color photographs.
$15.00
Begoniacae, Edition 2, Part I: Annotated
Species List, Part II: Illustrated Key,
Abridgement & Supplement Jack Golding
& Dieter C. Wasshausen, 2002,
Smithsonian Institution, Volume 43: 1-289
$55.00
Seeing Begonia by Jack Golding 2003,
Revised 2005, Jack Golding’s last work.
“….dedicated to the many who look at
their Begonia but do not see the details.”
$15.00
Begonia Notes by Rudolf Ziesenhenne,
Reissued by the Thelma O’Reilly Reprint
Fund
Originally printed in the Santa Barbara
Branch, La Begonia Barbareña
$15.00
Begonias – 1984 Update by Mildred
L. Thompson, reissued 2009, “An
addendum for particular portions of
Begonias: The Complete Reference
Guide (Times Books, 1981)
$18.00
NEW: The Begonian 1934-2016 on USB
$75.00
The Begonian on DVD
#1 1934–1958 $25.00
#2 1959–1979 $25.00
#3 1980–2005 $25.00
#4 2006–2011 (Jan/Feb. 2012, 2011
Index) NEW $75.00
To order: Prices include shipping. Send
check payable to the American Begonia
Society and your order to Wendy Corby,
2533 Warrego Way, Sacramento, CA
95826, email WendyCorby@comcast.
net or order online at begonias.org by
PayPal. For questions and availability,
Book Store Chairman Janet Brown,
tenajbegonia@gmail.com 310-670-4471
37
 Seed Fund
Hello ABS members,
The Seed Fund has enjoyed quite a large
number of orders in the past several months.
ABS is very glad for the interest in starting
begonias from seeds. Due to the large volume
of orders, however, the Seed Fund is on a
temporary hiatus to allow the Seed Fund team
a chance to complete their tasks.
If you have any questions, please email
AmericanBegoniaSociety@gmail.com.

Privacy Policy
Your privacy and the privacy of all ABS members or of those who
contact us is of the highest priority. This privacy and terms of use
statement explains what information we gather from you, how it
may be used by us and how it is protected. If you have any questions,
please contact us.
If you are an ABS member or request information from ABS, we use
the information you submit to fulfill your requests (such as sending
informational materials, fulfilling your order or responding to specific
inquiries). We also may use information for purposes of the Society
including providing names of ABS members to those wishing to start
a branch in the ABS or in connection with internal communications
(such as invitations to events). If you do not want your information
shared, let our membership chairman know by email or phone.
This information is used for Society-related contacts only. We will
not knowingly collect or use personal identifying information from
children younger than 18 without parental consent. If knowledge
of any information from any child younger 18 is collected, we will
immediately delete such information.
38
If you are a member of ABS or submit material to The Begonian, your
information may be published in The Begonian either in association
with the published material or in reporting business of the society in-
cluding the directory on the inside back cover. If you submit material
in any form including letters, articles, and photographs, it is assumed
that these are submitted for publication unless you specifically request
that material not be published. Be aware that it is the policy of ABS
not to copyright material in The Begonian or restrict its further use
so long as credit is given as to source.
There is a privacy policy specific to our web page on our website at
www.begonias.org.
We do not otherwise sell, rent, exchange or disclose our client lists
or information about our web site users or our members, except to
the limited extent necessary to protect the rights, property and safety
of our Society, our members, or others or to comply with applicable
law. In the event of dissolution of the Society, all member data will
be destroyed.
The Begonian
ABS Elected Officers
President-... Sally Savelle, 65 High Pine Circle, Concord,
MA 01742; 978-287-4837;
The Begonian
sally.savelle@gmail.com
Past President... Martin E. Delgado, P.O. Box 39685, March/April 2019
Downey, CA 90239; 562-310-8380;

Submissions Due
mdlibrarian@consultant.com
1st Vice-President... Butch McDole, 4822 Brown Leaf Dr.,
Powder Springs, GA 30127; 404-405-9351
2nd Vice-President... Stephanie Rose, 1128 S. Granada
Ave., Alhambra, CA 91801; 626-289-2250; January 21
sjroseborn@aol.com
Secretary... Randy Montes Kerr, 1279 N. Harper Send YOUR photos,
Ave, #105, West Hollywood, California 90046;
justrandy2@yahoo.com; Website: BegoniaSpecies.org growing tips, and articles!
Treasurer... Wendy Corby, 2533 Warrego
Way, Sacramento, CA 95826; 916-362-8608;
Treasurer@begonias.org
begoniaskc@yahoo.com
Appointed Chairs & Directors Stylesheet available on request.

Audit... Paul Tsamtsis, 791 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento,

CA 95815-3540
Internet Editor... Malcolm McCorquodale;
Awards... Cheryl Lenert, 21744 FM 2920, Hockley, TX
webmaster@begonias.org
77447; 281-255-9004; lenert@flash.net
Judging Co-chairs... Johanna Zinn, 4407 Jensen Place,
Ballot Counting... Melissa Worton, 3722 Tanner Lane,
Fairfax, VA 22032; 703-323-7513; jazinn@cox.net &
San Diego, CA 92111; 858-472-0540
Betsy Szymczak, 3 Maple Avenue, Natick, MA 01760-4312;
Book Store... Jan Brown; 310-670-4471; begoniabrown@
617-750-1422; szymczakb@gmail.com
yahoo.com
Members-at-Large... Sandy Boyd, 5 Walnut Circle,
Branch Relations... Tom Keepin, 4513 Randwick Dr.,
Chico, CA 95973; 530-891-5760; smacboyd@gmail.com
Houston, TX 77092-8343; 713-686-8539;
Membership Committee... Co-chairs: Sally Savelle,
thomas.keepin@gmail.com
sally.savelle@gmail;
Business Manager... Doug Byrom, 1725 Brazos Bend
Randy Montes Kerr, justrandy2@yahoo.com
Ave., Smithville, Texas 78957; 512-237-0390;
Membership Registrar... Linda Kammerer, PO Box
douglasbyrom@gmail.com
6261, Providence, RI 02940; 401-484-8854;
Conservation Co-Chairs... Johanna Zinn, 4407 Jensen
amerbegmembership@gmail.com
Place, Fairfax, VA 22032; 703-323-7513; jazinn@
Nomenclature... Dr. Rick Schoellhorn, 7421 NW 176th
cox.net & Stephen Maciejewski, 2030 Fitzwater St.,
St., Alachua, FL 32615; 352-226-0006;
Philadelphia, PA. 19146; 215-869-9445;
rick@provenwinners.com
Teciu1949@gmail.com
Cultivar Registrar...Priscilla Purinton, 129 Queens
Convention Advisor... Mary Sakamoto, 13362 Mount
River Dr., West Kingston, RI 02892; 401-782-8154 or
Hood Dr., Santa Ana, CA 92705; 714-852-3695;
401-688-0678; ppurinton@gmail.com
m.sakamoto@sbcglobal.net
Parliamentarian... Linda Lawson, 525 Terrace Place,
Convention... Wendy Corby, 2533 Warrego
Norman, OK 73069-5034; 405-524-1261or 405-326-
Way, Sacramento, CA 95826; 916-362-8608;
4566
Convention@begonias.org
Public Relations... Mary V. Early, 3629 Treadwell Dr.,
Entries/Classification...Vacant
Oklahoma City, OK 73112; 405-943-2230 or 405-816-
Facebook Manager... John Boggan;
3394; mary.early@sbcglobal.net
dcbegonias@gmail.com
Publications Committee... Freda Holley, 251 Pylant Rd.,
Grants Committee... Stephanie Rose, 1128 S. Granada
Choudrant, LA, 71227; 318-251-2296;
Ave., Alhambra, CA 91801; 626-289-2250;
gehrtii@icloud.com
sjroseborn@aol.com
Save Our Species Coordinator... Johanna Zinn, 4407
Historian...Sandra Threadcraft, 3058 Weslock Circle, De-
Jensen Place, Fairfax, VA 22032; 703-323-7513;
catur, Georgia 30034; 404-243-8686;
jazinn@cox.net
Sunmoontrine@yahoo.com
Unidentified Species (U Numbers)... Randy Kerr; jus-
Horticultural Correspondent... Gregory Sytch, 6329
trandy2@yahoo.com; Don Miller;  don2342@hotmail.
Alaska Avenue, New Port Richey, FL 34653-4301;
com; Dinesh Sembukuttiarachchi; dsem3@hotmail.com
727-237-3106; gsytch@tampabay.rr.com

vol 86 January/February 2019 39