Begonia Baramensis & Borneo Begonias

CHARACTERISTICS:

I must say that this particular Borneo Begonia is quite sensitive and easily to perish when their humidity is compromised. Often cultivated in high humidity apparatus especially coming to terms with this high profile plants - often placed in well regulated terrarium with good lighting and misting.

However I must indicate that due to the factor that this one is actually grown in high elevation surrounding Mount Kinabalu regions in Sabah - thus the do not do well in lowland climate zone, even acclimatization can be very challenging.

Here, you can note the coloration appears to be slightly faded due to lack of humidity.  

It did give out few sprouts along the main stem of this begonia, however it did succumb to rot when the weather was not favourable especially during the dry season when it is extremely hot.

Unlike other Cane Begonias - this one did not grow big and that I also noticed and found that the most it can actually grow is very much like a two leafed begonia and that appears to be its matured form.

Also based on observation - the cultivation medium is very much sphagnum moss.

Hence in this context, when I know that high elevation plants especially these types of begonia somehow grows well in temperate regions conditions especially like the Begonia Darthvaderiana

I for one, not interested in growing something too challenging knowing the fact that my garden condition is not suitable for this kind of begonia long term. However, you will never know until you try cultivation and see what actually works and what don't.

Personally - I have yet to see this particular begonia cultivated in its full glory where it is tall as Begonia Lucerna or Begonia Burning Bush.  I also noticed that the ones that fall into the rare category especially the ones coming from Borneo seemed to have this similar characteristics of highly sensitive, requiring high humidity and special needs 

Often these are difficult to cultivate in lowland climate unless it has been selected as a tissue culture plants for the Ornamental Plant Industry - otherwise, sadly these are actually porched by locals and often haphazardly sold abroad due to market demand of which these begonias don't make it due to wrong packaging and long-overdue travelling stress.

A lot of have yet to be mentioned about their status especially when it comes to native plants - some are critically endangered and some are even yet to be properly identified. This actually gives an idea that there are a lot we really don't know and often too many are shipped to botanic gardens and research centres for safekeeping before these species are totally been wiped out due to deforestation and forest fire.

Climate change too can be a huge factor, I have noticed when new roads are introduced into a forest and when trucks and construction vehicles bulldoze through into the eco-system and more often than not pollute the rivers and water streams throwing off balance to the delicate balance of nature.

Once rare and yet to be identified ferns, moss and selaginella together with some of these begonia species thrived in that particular zone had been wiped out and been replaced with lowland grass and weeds - often the tell tale sign of total irreversible damage

1) Darth Vader Begonia (Begonia darthvaderiana)
2) Begonia amphioxus

3) Begonia Baik

and the list goes on

Some Begonias - you can even hardy identify as most information are not available for common public.

You must also realise that when a begonia been collected from the wild and when it carefully cultivated to its optimum growing conditions - that particular begonia will change its form - it will never look the same as what you actually found in the wild. 

Hence, when looking at the pictures from books, magazines and even in the research papers in the internet, there aren't much to look and make reference with as we all know - the same begonia plant can appear differently when grown in different conditions.

I have yet to come across anyone who have managed to grow this particular one successfully, let alone anyone who had cultivated it in a big grand scale and offer it as a plant cutting for sale here in the lowland climate zone.

Hence I would personally say, Do check where these plants were sourced from either from a reputable collector or nursery. Do refrain and refuse to purchase this from poachers and let these be in their natural habitat - in the highland forest.

 

 DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANE BEGONIAS

Other matters are very much similar with the general information about Cane Begonias.
Do click below for more information on Cane Begonias.
Cane Begonia Care & Cultivation information.