BEGONIACEAE
Morphological description
Herbs, stem succulent, sometimes woody at base; stipulate.
Leaves
Leaves simple, alternate, asymmetrical.
Inflorescence
Inflorescence.
Flowers
Flower unisexual (plants monoecious), stamens many; ovary inferior, 3-locular, ovules numerous. Sepals and petals usually free.
Fruits
Fruit 3-winged.
Seeds
Seeds.
Different from: The family is allied to the Datiscaceae (huge trees in Malesia); sterile Begoniaceae might be mistaken for Balsaminaceae (exstipulate, symmetric leaves). - Gesneriaceae (Cyrtandra): leaves opposite. - Urticaceae (Elatostema): cystoliths.
Distribution: The family pantropical. In Malesia 2 genera: - Begonia (pantropical), lowland and montane forest on various substrates, often on limestone; - Symbegonia (New Guinea), mostly mid-montane forest.
Notes: The stems and leaves of some species are used in cooking. Several species (mostly exotic) are cultivated as ornamentals.
Literature: C.A. Backer & R.C. Bakhuizen van den Brink, Fl. Java 1 (1963) 307-313; H. Irmscher, Mitt. Inst. Alg. Bot. Hamburg 8 (1929) 86-160. H.N. Ridley, Fl. Malay Pen. 1 (1922); M. J. Sands, Checklist Brunei (1996) 38- 40. - Mr. M. J. Sands (K) is revising the family for Flora Malesiana.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Begoniaceae 92 - Begonia 45; B. bipinnatifida 50. New volume 43, 48, 50, 51, 52, 68, 88, 93, 104, 109
Illustrations: Fig. 31. Begonia cucculata Willd. (Begoniaceae). Reproduced from Hsuan Keng, Orders and Families of Malayan Seed plants (1978) fig. 45. With kind permission of Prof. and Mrs. Keng.
Images in PhytoImages for Begoniaceae.