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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The flower labeled Heartleaf Begonia is ...