{"product_id":"begonia-u639","title":"Begonia U639","description":"\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e Origin: \u003cstrong\u003eIndia\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e Care: Easy \/ \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eMedium\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \/ Advanced\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e Suitable as a houseplant?: Yes \/ \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eLimited\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \/ No\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n \u003cli\u003eSuitable locations: \u003cstrong\u003eTerrarium, plant display case, west-facing window, east-facing window\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e Special features: This undescribed species may be a dark form of \u003cem\u003eBegonia hatacoa.\u003c\/em\u003e\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e [porto_content_box border_top_color=\"#1e764d\" border_radius=\"2\" border_top_width=\"2\" align=\"left\"]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e [expand Title=\" \u003cstrong\u003eDetails about the plant\u003c\/strong\u003e \"]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eBegonia\u003c\/em\u003e U639 is a species that has not yet been scientifically described, which Darrin Norton of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.mountainorchids.com\"\u003eMountain Orchids\u003c\/a\u003e in the USA received as a \"weed\" in a shipment of seeds of another begonia from Vietnam.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eIt has been suggested that \u003cem\u003eBegonia\u003c\/em\u003e U639 is a dark-leaved variety of \u003cem\u003eBegonia hatacoa\u003c\/em\u003e (pers. comm., 2015 Dr. Ching-I Peng), specifically \u003cem\u003eBegonia hatacoa\u003c\/em\u003e var. \u003cem\u003erubrifolia\u003c\/em\u003e . The problem is that \u003cem\u003eBegonia hatacoa\u003c\/em\u003e var. \u003cem\u003erubrifolia\u003c\/em\u003e does not exist. The name has only been mentioned once, in 2006 in issue 73 of the American Begonia Society's magazine \"Begonian.\" No type specimen for this variety has been deposited anywhere; therefore, this is an invalid name ( \u003cspan class=\"aCOpRe\"\u003enomen nudum\u003c\/span\u003e ).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe differences between \u003cem\u003eBegonia\u003c\/em\u003e U639 and \u003cem\u003e*B. hatacoa*\u003c\/em\u003e extend beyond mere leaf color. The growth habit also differs markedly. The nominate form, as well as the accepted variant *var. \u003cem\u003emeisneri*,\u003c\/em\u003e tend to grow with drooping leaves instead of the striking, upright leaves of U639. These differences alone are certainly not sufficient to disqualify this plant from being classified as \u003cem\u003e*B. hatacoa*\u003c\/em\u003e . The flowers, which are very similar to those of *B. \u003cem\u003ehatacoa* in shape and color, further support the conclusion that this is indeed an unusual form of *B.\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003ehatacoa\u003c\/em\u003e *.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eIn nature, there is indeed at least one population of \u003cem\u003e*B. hatacoa\u003c\/em\u003e * that closely resembles the appearance of *B. U639*. In February 2021, Shankar Raman discovered a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.inaturalist.org\/observations\/70561981\"\u003epopulation of plants\u003c\/a\u003e identified as \u003cem\u003e*B. hatacoa*\u003c\/em\u003e in northern India (Meghalaya), near the border with Bangladesh, which look like *B. hatacoa*. These plants grow at altitudes of 400 to 600 meters as lithophytes directly on limestone rocks or in crevices and fissures within these rocks, which are filled with a small amount of soil and moss.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe climate there is warm and, due to the annual monsoon, very, very wet. From June to September, daytime temperatures are almost always above 30°C and nighttime temperatures rarely drop below 23°C, accompanied by exceptionally heavy rainfall. The dry season, from November to February, is characterized by strong, cool, and dry northeasterly winds from the Siberian highlands. During this time, daytime temperatures are only around 24°C, and nighttime temperatures cool down to around 12°C. This begonia usually sheds all its leaves during this period and survives as a rhizome.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eBegonia U639 grows with almost vertical, pointed leaves that are glossy dark green to bluish on the upper surface. The undersides of the leaves are deep red with yellowish veins. Their almost vertical growth habit makes them particularly striking. The leaves are borne on short, very finely but densely hairy, sturdy stems that grow from a creeping rhizome. The overall growth habit remains very compact. The leaves reach a length of approximately 12 cm.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eBegonia\u003c\/em\u003e U639 blooms with pretty, pink\/white striped flowers on stems about 20 cm high.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Within the begonias, it belongs to the section \u003cem\u003ePlatycentrum\u003c\/em\u003e .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e [\/expand]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e [\/porto_content_box]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e You will receive a young plant in a 7cm square pot.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Jungle Leaves","offers":[{"title":"7cm square pot","offer_id":57350558876025,"sku":"Beg010-7","price":19.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false},{"title":"12cm round pot","offer_id":57350558908793,"sku":"Beg011-12","price":29.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0951\/8389\/6953\/files\/IMG09425.jpg?v=1764904194","url":"https:\/\/www.jungle-leaves.de\/en\/products\/begonia-u639","provider":"Jungle Leaves","version":"1.0","type":"link"}