Malabar begonia
Begonia malabarica

Family: Begoniaceae

What it is like

A herb. The stems are 50 cm long. The leaves are 5-10 cm long. The are heart shaped and pointed and unequal at the base. There are teeth along the edge. The leaf stalks are 3-12 cm long. The flowers are in the axils of the leaves. They are red.

There are 900-1,000-1,500 Begonia species. It is used for treating diabetes.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in wet tropical places up to 5,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Britain, Europe, India, Indonesia, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, USA

How it is used for food

It is eaten as a pot-herb. It is used as a salt substitute in curries and other dishes. They are a substitute for tamarind.

Edible parts

Leaves, plants

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or by leaf or stem cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Begonia malabar, Janankolli, Kayyalappuli, Malampuli, Narayanachanjeeve, Narayana sanjivi, Parappuly, Raktasuri

Synonyms

Begonia fallax A. DC.; Begonia hydrophila Miq.; and others