Purple black tea begonia
Begonia fimbristipula

Family: Begoniaceae

What it is like

A small delicate herb. It has a tuber but no stem and keeps growing from year to year. The tubers are almost round and 5 mm across. There are 1 or 2 leaves. They are oval or heart shaped and 3-7 cm long by 2-6 cm wide. They taper to the tip. There are irregular teeth along the edge. There are hairs on both surfaces and the leaves are purple underneath. The leaf stalks are slender. The flowers are pink. There are 2-4 flowers on slender stalks 10-15 cm long. The fruit is a 3 sides capsule with unequal wings.

It is an endangered species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in rocks in part shade and in crevices of tropical foggy peaks. It grows in high mountains in southern China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China

How it is used for food

The whole plant is dried and sold for tea.

It is sold and exported.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Begonia cyclophylla Hook. f.;