Begonia ‘Christina Grace’ No. 814-Begonia aconitifolia (syn. faureana) var. metallica x unknown 'Christina Grace' Cane-like, superba type, with numerous woody, 5' stems, swollen at the base. Palmately and triangularly lobed, cordate leaves up to 12" x 7" are dark glossy green, with a sprinkling of white dots when young, sparsely coarse-hairy above, glabrous and flushed red underneath. The faintly red margin is serrate; the 5 red veins, shading to green at the margin, are prominently raised underneath and indented above. Petioles are strong, thick, green; stipules, green. Large, two-toned trusses hanging on 20" to 3" peduncles carry large, strong-clear-pink, 2-tepaled male and 5-tepaled female flowers measuring up to 2" across, paler pink toward centers, with deeper pink, triangular wings (one larger than the other two) on pale ovaries, blooming best in summer. Wider and shallower leaf lobes, larger flower clusters, and a slenderer and taller habit distinguish the cultivar from its seed parent. Originated in 1974 by Hazel Burley, 191 Simpson Road, Bardon, Brisbane 4065, Australia; first bloomed in 1975; first distributed in 1976. Tested by Bernard Yorke of Brisbane and Mickey Meyer of Lathra, New South Wales, Australia. Registered March 27, 1980.
