begonia
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begonia
begonia
Begonia
a genus of plants of the family Begoniaceae.
Begonias are shrubs (rarely, climbing ones) or subshrubs. They are herbs with creeping or tuberously thickened rhizomes that sometimes have tubers. The leaves are generally asymmetrical and are often beautifully colored (especially in cultivated species). The flowers are irregular and unisexual or monoecious. The leaflets of the perianth are irregular and brightly colored. The fruit of the begonia is a pod.
There are approximately 800 species of begonias in the tropics and subtropics (except Australia). Many species are grown indoors and in the ground as decorative plants. Begonias are classified as shrubs or tuberous plants (with abundant, brightly colored flowers) and leafy plants (with beautifully colored leaves). Some species of begonias have creeping forms that are used as hanging plants. Begonias reproduce by seeds, cuttings, and leaves (even parts of them) that produce shoots from the newly formed adventitious buds.
REFERENCES
Mnogoletnie tsvety otkrytogo grunta. Moscow, 1959.Kiselev, G. E. Tsvetovodstvo, 3rd ed. Moscow, 1964.