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Heartleaf Begonia
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Heartleaf Begonia
P Native Photo: Preetha P.S.
Common name: Heartleaf Begonia
Botanical name: Begonia cordifolia    Family: Begoniaceae (Begonia family)
Synonyms: Begonia incarnata, Diploclinium cordifolium

Heartleaf Begonia is a perennial stemless herb; rhizomes subterranean, horizontal. Leaves are 6-20 x 4-23 cm, ovate or round, deeply heart-shaped at base, pointed to blunt or notched at tip, rounded toothed-toothed at margins, sparsely hairy and blotched above. Leaf-stalk is erect to rising up 5-35 cm long, pinkish. Flowering stems are a few per axils bearing up to 10 flowers. Male flowers have 4 tepals, the outer once round, up to 15 mm wide, flat or heart-shaped at base, inner inverted-lanceshaped, rounded at tip; stamens about 45, fused at base. Female flowers have 5 tepals, but rarely two of them are wanting, semi-persistent in capsule, outer round, up to 17 mm wide, hairless, inner unequal, 12 x 5 mm, obovate to oblong. Ovary is 6-20 x 5-15 mm including wings; styles 3, fused at base; stigma papillose. Capsules are thick, whitish. Heartleaf Begonia is found in evergreen forests in South India and Sri Lanka. Flowering: June-December.

Identification credit: Preetha P.S. Photographed in Shenduruni forests, Kollam, Kerala.

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