Begonia sutherlandii

Begonia sutherlandii
In cultivation
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Begoniaceae
Genus: Begonia
Species: B. sutherlandii
Binomial name
Begonia sutherlandii
Hook.f.

Begonia sutherlandii, known as the Sutherland begonia and as iwozya in Kimalila, Tanzania, is a tuberous flowering perennial plant in the family Begoniaceae, growing to 0.5 metres (20 in) with fleshy pink stems from 10 to 80 centimetres (4 to 31 in) long. Leaves are commonly dark green and veined with red and covered with short hairs on the underside. They are asymmetrical in shape and the margin is toothed. Flowers, produced in pendent panicles throughout summer,[1] are 20–26 millimetres (0.8–1.0 in) in diameter, and are usually orange or orange–red with yellow anthers.

The plant is native to the southern highlands of Tanzania and is often found hanging over rocks in damp shady situations or on trees. It is also present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in South Africa.

B. sutherlandii can be cultivated outdoors in frost-free areas. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[2]

The red stems and the leaves are eaten in Umalila. An infusion of the leaf and stem of the plant is used medicinally by Zulu people in South Africa to treat heartburn and vomiting of blood.

Illustration from Curtis's Botanical Magazine (1868)
Flowers

References

  1. ↑ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
  2. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Begonia sutherlandii". Retrieved 13 June 2013.
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