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Begonia cucullata

Willd. (1805)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Cucurbitales Family: Begoniaceae Genus: Begonia

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Plants perennial (rhizomatous), usually glabrous, sometimes sparsely hairy.

Stems: Stems (10–)30–70(–100) cm.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades asymmetric, ovate to ± reniform, (28–)46–72(–80) × (28–)33–85 mm. Apex obtuse. Base cuneate on shorter side, usually rounded on longer one. Surfaces glabrous. Margins not lobed, crenate, teeth apices setose, otherwise eciliate. Petioles 5–46 mm, glabrous. Stipules lanceolate to oblong, 7–19 × 3–6 mm.

Flowers: Flowers in peduncles 22–75 mm (in fruit); bracts lanceolate to ovate. Flowers unisexual (plants monoecious), white to pink. Tepals of staminate flowers 4, outer 2 (sepals) suborbiculate or reniform, 7–10 mm, inner 2 (petals) narrowly obovate, 5–7 mm; Tepals of pistillate flowers 4 or 5, obovate, 6–9 mm. Stamens 24–33. Ovary inferior.

Fruit: Capsules 8–15 × 6–12 mm; larger wings deltate–rounded; 10–17 mm wide; smaller 3.5–5 mm wide. Seeds numerous and small; endosperm essentially absent; reticulate.

Ploidy: 2n = 34; 56

Habitat: Along streams in swamps; floodplain woodlands; cabbage palmetto hummocks; wet ditches; wet and mucky soil; often in shade.

Elevation Range: 0–10 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Potentially naturalizing
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Only found in cultivation

Dispersal Agents

Wind

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl., ed. 4, 4: 414 (1805)

Other References

Lorence et al. 1995:25 (NEWNAT/K, H, DESCR); Frohlich & Lau 2014:8 (O); Oppenheimer 2019:4 (Mo); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:163 (WM)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Begonia cucullata Perennial herb. Roots slightly tuberous, leaves dark glossy green above. Tepals white with pink tinge along margins Moist, shady bank. Naturalized locally along trail. Preserved_Specimen Lorence, D.H. 5808 Kauai BISH 1988-02-17
2 Begonia cucullata Moanalua Valley, 100 m ma uka of Moanalua District Park. Mesic forest on rock near steam bottom. associated Psidium catleyanum, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Aleurites moluccana, Oplismenis hirtellus. Schefflera actinophylla, Dypsis lutescens Preserved_Specimen Flowers pink apically to white internally, Arthur, K. 73 Oahu BISH 2025-02-28
3 Begonia cucullata Wailau Valley. Escaped from cultivation into rocky sites. Preserved_Specimen Leaves succulent. Oppenheimer, H.L. 100907 Molokai BISH 2009-10-11
4 Begonia cucullata S Kona District, Kealakekua Ranch, Kealakekua ahupuaa, road to Papaloa; roadside Growing on lava rock. Preserved_Specimen 50 cm tall; perianth red. Wagner, W.L. 5941 Hawaii BISH 1988-03-11
5 Begonia cucullata Nuuanu Pali Dr. Near its intersection with the Pali Highway at the lower end of the road Roadside, partly shaded area. Growing dirctly from asphalt Preserved_Specimen Wildly recruited individual on the side of the road growing from a crack Faccenda, K. 1894 Oahu BISH 2021-05-29
6 Begonia cucullata Waianae Mountains, Kaluaa, just off catchment ridge above steps down to Pit gla(sp.?) gulch Growing among Acacia koa, M. polymorpha, clidemia hirta, and Doodia kunthiana. Preserved_Specimen Erect herb to about 25 cm tall. Kawelo, K. 308 Oahu BISH 2013-03-13
7 Begonia cucullata West Maui, Mailuku District, Iao Valley, Nakalaloa Stream. Northing: 2309721; Easting: 752969 Vegetation: Lowland West [sic.] Forest. Naturalized: all size classes on mossy boulder along perennial stream. Preserved_Specimen Plants succulent; stems erect, green; leaves green on both surfaces; petals pure white, stamens yellow. Oppenheimer, H.L. 42101 Maui BISH 2021-04-08
8 Begonia cucullata Nuuanu Pali Dr. Near its intersection with the Pali Highway at the lower end of the road Roadside, partly shaded area. Growing directly from asphalt Preserved_Specimen Wildly recruited individual on the side of the road growing from a crack Faccenda, K. 1894.5 Oahu BISH 2021-05-29
9 Begonia cucullata Honolulu: Manoa Valley; University of Hawaii Manoa Campus, Sherman Laboratory Preserved_Specimen An herb branching at the base; 0.4 m. tall; planted in deep shade. Male and female flowers a blend of white, light pink, and rose-pink. Flower odorless (evening). Lau, J. 1556 Oahu BISH 1985-10-23
10 Begonia cucullata Honolulu, University of Hawaii, Manoa Campus, Sherman Laboratory Preserved_Specimen An herb branching at the base; 0.4 m. tall; planted in deep shade. Male and female flowers a blend of white, light pink and rose-pink. Flower odorless (evening). Lau, J. 1556 Oahu BISH 1985-10-23
11 Begonia cucullata Honolulu, Kapalama Heights, Kamehameha Girls' School Preserved_Specimen Judd Jr., A.F. Oahu BISH 1932-06-06
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