Begonia, Wax begonia
Begonia cucullata
Family: Begoniaceae
What it is like
A herb. It grows 1.5 m tall. The stems are fleshy. They are erect and branched. They are green to red and hairy when young. The leaves are oblique and oval and unequal on opposite sides. They are 1-14 cm long by 2-9 cm wide. They can be rolled inwards at the tip. There are teeth along the edge. The leaves are waxy green above and pale green underneath. The leaf stalks are reddish and 5 cm long. The flowers are white to pink. The fruit is an oval capsule 1 cm long.
There are 900-1,000-1,500 Begonia species. It can become invasive.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in rainforests and disturbed areas up to 3,000 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Indonesia, Korea, Mauritius, Mexico, North America, Pacific, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Reunion, SE Asia, South Africa, South America, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela
How it is used for food
The leaves are eaten as a cooling salad.
Edible parts
Leaves, rhizomes
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds or stem or leaf cuttings.
Its other names
Local names
Azedinha-do-brejo, Begonia lilin