Description of the plant, recommendations on agrotechnics of besleria and rules for reproduction, difficulties in growing and ways to solve them, pest control, species. Besleria (Besleria) belongs to the numerous and well-known family of flower growers Gesneriaceae and belongs to the genus of shrubs or medium-sized trees, there are also herbaceous representatives. This genus can number up to 169 species. Basically, this specimen of flora grows in the territory of the Neotropics, and most of them can be found in the Andes in the lands of Colombia and Ecuador. Moreover, the plant is considered endemic to these places (that is, it does not grow anywhere else on the entire globe). It also includes representatives of the genus, which are endemic plants in the southeastern Brazilian regions. Beslerians prefer to "settle" in rather humid conditions, which are provided by plain and mountain forests, coastal river zones and humid cliffs.
The plant got its name thanks to the botanist monk Charles Plumier, who decided in 1703 to immortalize the name of the scientist from Germany, who devoted himself to botany Basilius Besler (1561-1629), known in the world for his work Hortus Eystettensis, considered one of the treasures of botanical literature. All beslerias with any form of growth have a fibrous root system. When cut, the stems of a plant can have both cylindrical outlines and have four faces. The color of the shoots is grayish green. The leaf plates are opposite on the branches and can grow from leathery to scarious. In shape, the leaves are ovoid, oval, oblong-ovate with a pointed tip at the top. Often the surface is mottled with a pattern of veins. The color of the foliage is intense dark emerald. Occasionally there is whitish pubescence.
Inflorescences originate in the leaf axils, they are cymoseous, attached to short peduncles, the length of which does not exceed 3 cm, but some varieties have longer flowering stems. Inflorescences are often collected in bunches or curls of umbrella-shaped outlines, but it happens that they grow alone. There are no bracts, at the base of the sepals are spliced, the calyx of the bud is bell-shaped, but it can take the form of a jug or cylinder. The lobes in the rims are tiled, as if they are on top of each other. Their outlines are rounded, or with a pointed tip at the apex, whole-edged or with fine serration. Corolla color casts yellow, orange, red and even whitish. The tube is also cylindrical, and at the base there may be a protrusion or a pouch, at the throat, both a sharp narrowing and swelling are observed. The bend of the corolla is double-lipped or practically correct, and sometimes it is actinomorphic (when several planes of symmetry can be drawn through the bud).
The bud usually contains two pairs of stamens, the lengths of the pairs are different, the filaments are wide and flat in shape. Anthers spliced at the tops. The nectary has ring or semicircular outlines. The ovary is at the top, the stigma of the capitate contour with a pair of lobes.
After flowering, the fruit ripens in the form of a berry. It is spherical and rather fleshy. It can take on white, orange or red hues, the flesh in the berry is the tissue of the placenta.
Tips for caring for besleria, keeping at home
- Lighting. The location of the pot with the plant on the windowsill of the window with an east or west orientation is suitable. On the south one will need curtains, and on the window of the north location - backlighting.
- Content temperature. Almost all species of this family are grown at temperatures of 16-18 degrees in winter, but in summer and spring they thrive at room temperature.
- Air humidity. Since it is a "resident" of areas with high humidity, it is required by any means to maintain its high level. But frequent spraying cannot be used if the variety has pubescence of foliage, buds and peduncles. Therefore, vessels with water and air humidifiers are placed nearby.
- Watering. To make besleria feel comfortable, you will need to prevent the soil from drying out in the flowerpot. When the substrate is flooded, rotting of the stems and roots may begin. Only soft and warm water is used.
- Fertilizers for a plant, it is customary to make it from early spring to mid-autumn. Top dressings with a high phosphorus content are used, but you can buy specially designed formulations, for example, "for Saintpaulias". Regular feeding every 14 days.
- Transplanting and soil selection. Changing the pot and soil for besleria is done in the spring. The pot is selected not much more than before. If the plant is large enough, then the top layer of the substrate is changed. In this case, the roots do not experience injury, and even when changing the flowerpot, it is better to perform transshipment (without destroying the earthen coma). A drainage layer is placed in the pot.
It is used for transplanting a nutritious soil that is suitable for representatives of this family. But you can mix the substrate yourself from leafy soil, peat soil, humus and river sand (all in equal parts), a little turf is also mixed there.
Recommendations for self-breeding besleria
When breeding besleria, the following methods are used: cuttings, sowing seeds.
The seed is placed in a pot with leafy soil mixed with peat and sand (all parts are equal). It is scattered on the surface of the soil without covering it up. The germination temperature is maintained at about 22 degrees. Seedlings, after the appearance of a couple of leaves, dive a couple of times as they grow into new pots (depending on the size of the container). Until the beslerias grow, it is required to shade them from the bright sun, regularly water the soil, and maintain 20 degrees Celsius. After the second pick has been carried out after a month, the plant can be transplanted in separate pots with a suitable substrate for adult specimens.
Cuttings begin to cut from May to the end of summer. For this, a leaf or twig of no more than 10 cm is cut off and planted in moistened sand. It is required to withstand a temperature of 24 degrees, shade the cuttings and water regularly. With the arrival of autumn days, the indicators of heat and moisture gradually decrease. And with the onset of spring, they are transplanted in separate containers.
Since the root system is not tuberous, it is not propagated by division.
Diseases and pests of besleria
When growing this representative of the Gesneriaceae family, the following failures are possible:
- the buds have turned black and died out with a lack of micronutrients or insufficient light levels;
- if the leaf plates acquire a reddish tint, then this indicates a lack of phosphorus;
- when the foliage turned yellow, there was a lack of nitrogenous fertilizing or the substrate in the pot was flooded;
- foliage has lost its hue when the plant lacks magnesium;
- with low air humidity, the leaves begin to curl;
- if spotting has formed on the leaf plates, but this is not a consequence of infection, then either the light is too bright, or this is the action of a draft or moistening with cold water;
- if the bud began to curl, and the besleria stopped growing, then the heat indicators are below 15 degrees;
- with excessive moisture, the edge of the leaves curls and the leaf plate bends, flowers are formed deformed with shortened pedicels;
- with increased acidity of the soil, rotting of the petioles and buds can occur, as well as with waterlogging of the substrate or an excess of nitrogen in dressings;
- if there are no flowers, then the reasons can be varied: low light, lack of feeding, the air is too dry and cold, a violation of care during the rest period.
It happens that beslerias can be affected by thrips or red spider mites. It will be necessary to carry out treatment with insecticidal preparations.
Interesting facts about besleria
The genus of Besleria owes its name, as already mentioned, to Charles Plumiere, a botanist-monk from France. He began his explorations from the southern coast of France, where Provence and Languedoc are located, but then he realized his long-held dream of travel. In this regard, the scientist joined the expedition organized by the government and left for the Antilles in 1689. The results of studies of the flora and fauna of those places were recognized by the world scientific community as very valuable. And in this regard, Plumier was appointed a botanist at the royal court. Already in 1693, carrying out the highest commission of King Louis XIV of France, the scientist made his second trip to those island territories and also visited Central America.
On this expedition, Jean-Baptiste Laba, a botanist monk from the Dominican Order, becomes his companion. After his stay in the lands of South America, Plumiere showed the world new samples of the flora of those places. He described and presented Besleria (named after the botanist from Germany Basilius Besler), Magnolia or Magnolia (honoring the name of the botanist from his native France Pierre Magnolia), as well as Begonia or Begonia - immortalizing the name of the patron saint of Plumiere himself, Michel Begon.
Types of besleria
There is very little information on the Internet about this representative of the Gesneriev family, but still some descriptions are present.
- Besleria cinnabar (Besleria miniata) is an endemic plant (a representative of the fauna that grows in only one single place on the planet) of South American lands, namely Ecuador. Basically, he likes to "settle" in forests located in the lowlands of the tropical and subtropical climate, where there are always high humidity conditions, and can also be found on lowland forests on both sides of the Andes. The plant has a shrub or semi-shrub growth. The variety owes its second name to the bright red hue of the flowers that bloom, decorating the plant. The buds have a funnel-shaped corolla, at the top of which there is a four-lobed limb. One petal is located directly above, and the other two are placed on its sides, creating a kind of "entrance to the bud". The lower petal grows, tending with its top to the calyx, which is why the appearance of the flower resembles an incomplete question mark. The lobes of the petals are rounded, and the lower petal is separated from the other three by yellow stripes inside the corolla. The dimensions of the corolla can be up to one and a half centimeters. White anthers protrude from the corolla on long filiform stamens. When the flower has not yet blossomed, then its leaf lobes are tightly folded together, like a tile, sealing the entrance and their shade from above is dark red. The surface of the bud is covered with whitish hairs outside. Long peduncles also resemble shaggy insect legs due to such dense pubescence. Usually a paniculate inflorescence is collected from the buds. After flowering, the berry ripens.
- Besleria triflora (Besleria triflora) can be found on the territory of Costa Rica in the area of the Arenal volcano. It has the shape of a bush, the branches of which reach two meters in height. Stems are bare or at the ends with a slight pubescence of a whitish color. The leaf blade reaches 3–9 cm in length, has an elliptical shape and featheriness, the number of parts varies within 5–19 lobes. The surface of the leaf parts is glabrous, but occasionally there is a rare pubescence. From the flowers, umbrella-shaped inflorescences are collected, usually there are three buds in such a formation. Peduncle, pronounced with a length of up to 1, 5-3 cm, the same size reach the pedicels. The color of the calyx is whitish-green, it can be glabrous or slightly pubescent. Its lobes are semicircular in shape and measure 0.5 cm in length, their edge is ciliated. The corolla has a slight slope towards the calyx. Its dimensions are approaching one and a half centimeters in length. The color of the bud can be from yellow to orange. After the flowering process, the fruit ripens in the form of a berry, whitish in color. Most often, this plant can be found not only in the above-described area, but also in Colombia, where the species likes to "settle" in very humid rainforests. Can form hybrids with Besleria notabilis, which closely resembles.
- Besleria notable (Besleria notabilis) most often this species is found in a rather narrow natural range, often being endemic in the rain forests of the neotropics. Often, some varieties grow sympatrically in 2-3 varieties. Sympatricity is a way of origin of some speciation, with it, the emergence of new varieties is possible when there is a population with sufficiently dense intersecting or completely coinciding distribution areas (areas). This variety is a shrub with branches reaching a height of 2 meters. The stems are devoid of pubescence. The sizes of the leaf plates vary in the range of 12–27 cm in length and 5–12 cm in width. The shape of the leaf is oblong-ovate or ovoid, there is a property of accumulating liquid (sap) in parts of the plant - succulence. The top surface of the leaf is smooth, and the underside has a groove. In natural conditions, foliage is often affected by all kinds of parasites: thrips (Trysanoptera) can form galls (groups, clusters) and also gall midges (Cecidomyiidae), and because of them the leaves seem to be heavily stained with soil. Flower buds are usually collected in leaf axils or in misshapen nodes. The peduncle can grow within 0.5-1 cm. The calyx has a purple color. Its surface can be either smooth or with short pubescence. There are lobes with sizes of 0, 2–0, 5 cm, they are ovoid or triangular in shape, the tops are pointed, along the edge they are ciliate. The corolla, as usual, has a slope towards the calyx, its length is about one and a half centimeters, the color is bright orange, but it can change to a lighter color, becoming almost yellow. The berries that appear after flowering are whitish.
- Besleria quadrangulata It is also an endemic plant in Ecuador that grows in tropical or subtropical rainforests. The flowers of this variety are very nondescript and small, mostly painted in a bright orange color. Plant height can approach 2 meters.
- Besleria labiosa this variety was first described by Johannes Ludwig Emil Robert von Hutstein (1822-1880), a German botanist from Potsdam. At one time, this scientist was a professor of botany at the University of Bonn and director of the botanical garden. The native territories of growth are considered to be the land of Venezuela in South America. It has oval-shaped leaves with a pointed tip at the top; veins are clearly visible over the entire surface, which, as it were, are pressed into the surface of the leaf. The color of the leaf plate is dark green. When blooming, buds of a pale yellow color appear, from which an umbrella inflorescence is collected. There is a characteristic curvature of the corolla, which with the calyx and peduncle resembles a question mark.
- Besleria lutea was collected in Jamaica. It is a large shrub or small tree. Flowering is not abundant, while small buds appear, pale yellow in color. After flowering, the berries ripen in a bright red hue.
