''Begonia boliviensis'' is a plant in the

begonia ''Begonia'' is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Begoniaceae. The genus contains more than 2,000 different plant species. The Begonias are native to moist subtropical and tropical climates. Some species are commonly grown ind ...

family, Begoniaceae, which was introduced to Europe in 1864 by Richard Pearce who discovered it in the Bolivian Andes, although the plant had previously been identified by Hugh Weddell in the same region but not introduced. ''Begonia boliviensis'' is of special historical interest to gardeners, being one of the species used by

John Seden John Seden (1840–1921) was a hybrid (biology), hybridist and horticulturist best known for the hybrids he created while in the employment of Veitch Nurseries. He was trained in hybridizing by John Dominy in 1861. In 1873 he began hybridizing tube ...

in the production of the first hybrid

tuberous begonia Tubers are a type of enlarged structure used as storage organs for nutrients in some plants. They are used for the plant's perennation (survival of the winter or dry months), to provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing s ...

raised in England, ''B''. × ''sedenii''. The plant originates from montane

cloud forest A cloud forest, also called a water forest, primas forest, or tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF), is a generally tropical or subtropical, evergreen, montane, moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud c ...

s on the eastern side of the Andes in Bolivia and Argentina. It is typically found in rock crevices and slopes near streams, where plant competition is low. It was exhibited for the first time at the International Horticultural Show in Paris, in May 1867, when it attracted much attention from both botanists and horticulturists, "more than any other plant then brought to that magnificent exhibition."

Description

The stems of ''Begonia boliviensis'' spring from a tuberous root-stock, and attain a height of between and ; the flowers, produced in pairs or threes on short stems in the angles of the obliquely lanceolate leaves, are bright orange/pink in colour, composed of four pointed segments. The description in '' Hortus Veitchii'' reads:

"A very beautiful plant with drooping scarlet flowers, from Bolivia, sent by Richard Pearce, and of great interest as one of the original species from which the numerous garden varieties, so popular at the present day, have been derived."

The cultivar ''B. boliviensis'' 'Bonfire' is widely available commercially and can be used in containers, in hanging baskets and as a landscape plant. It has bright-orange, bell-shaped flowers covering the plant from late spring through summer, with serrated foliage accented by a red margin. It reaches tall.

Hybridization

Shortly after the plant's introduction to England,

, the foreman at James Veitch & Sons of Chelsea, London, successfully crossed ''B. boliviensis'' and another Andean species, believed to be '' B. veitchii''. This was the first hybrid

raised in England. The new hybrid variety was named ''B''. × ''sedenii'' after him and was distributed in 1870, having been awarded the Silver Floral Medal by the Royal Horticultural Society.Irish Gardening (1909) Volume 4 page 98
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References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4880534 boliviensis Flora of Argentina Flora of Bolivia Garden plants Veitch Nurseries Plants described in 1859