Begonia rex Putzeys, Begoniaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: da wang qiu hai tang

English: king begonia, painted-leaf begonia, rex begonia

French: bégonia

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Rhizomatous perennial; rhizome horizontal, fleshy.  Leaf petioles to 4 inches long, red, hairy; blades obliquely ovate, 8-12 inches x 6-8 inches, surface wrinkled, upper side rich metallic green with bread silver-white zone, sparsely hairy, underside dull red, hairy along veins, base cordate, margins wavy, ciliate-toothed.  Inflorescence erect, few-flowered, taller than leaves, stalk glabrous or nearly so.  Flowers pale rose pink, to 2 inches in diameter; staminate flower tepals 4, unequal; pistillate flower tepals 5, equal, ovary 3-angled, wings 1 long and 2 short"  (Staples & Herbst, 2005; p. 177).

Habitat/ecology:  (no habitat/ecology info known by PIER)

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "Native to Assam in northeastern India" (Staples & Herbst, 2005; p. 177).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 691-692) Vouchers cited: DA 16761, DA 16762, DA 16763
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 21) Begonia x rex-cultorum L. H. Bailey; voucher cited: MacKee 41052

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Lavergne, Christophe (2006) "Cultivé/très envahissant"

Comments:  Invasive in La Réunion per Christophe Lavergne, pers. com. Most plants grown under this name are Begonia rex-cultorum hybrids (Staples & Herbst, 2005; p. 177).

Control:  If you know of control methods for Begonia rex, please let us know.