© Korea is one, 2004.

The U.S. Begonia Society, authorized by the ISHS, a universally authoritative organization in the field of horticultural science, examined the characteristic feature of the species and its horticultural value and formally registered the flower as new species No. 991 with a unanimous approval of the examiners. The decision made at the 15th session of the ISHS held in 1958 calls on the U.S. Begonia Society to examine a newly bred flower belonging to the begonia family worldwide. This society’s registration of any new species of flower would automatically mean a formal recognition by the ISHS.

The botanical name of Kimjongilia registered at the ISHS as a new species according to the decision is Begonia x tuberhybrida Voss ’KIMJONGILHWA’. Begonia is popular name and x means crossing and tuberhybrida implies bulbotuber mixed breed. Voss is the name of the person who named the specific epithet and ’KIMJONGILHWA’ is the name for a new variety.

Kimjongilia was awarded a special prize and a gold medal at the 12th International Flower Show held in Bratislava, Slovakia, and the top "Grand" Prize and its certificate at the 99 Kunming, China, World Horticultural Exhibition. The flower also won the first prize at the recent Begonia Show held in San Diego, California State of the U.S.

(KCNA, October 6)