Hirtella begonia, Brazilian begonia
Begonia hirtella
Family: Begoniaceae
What it is like
A herb. It grows 90 cm tall. It has soft succulent stems. The leaves are oval and oblique. They are 3-10 cm long by 2-8 cm wide. They have shallow lobes along the edge. There are blunt teeth along the edge. They are dark green above and paler green underneath. The leaf stalks are pale pink and 9 cm long. The flowers are in groups and are white with red tinges. The fruit are oval and 1.5 cm across.
There are 900-1,000-1,500 Begonia species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in rainforests and near creeks. It grows up to 1,800 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Central Africa, Gabon, Hawaii, Indonesia, Pacific, SE Asia, South America (country/location of origin), West Indies
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Leaves, flowers
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds or stem or leaf cuttings.
Its other names
Local names
Begonia hirtella