Didier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0
About
Begonia maculata, the polka dot begonia, is a species of begonia native to southeast Brazil. It grows naturally in the understory of the Atlantic rainforest, with occurrences confirmed in the Brazilian states of Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro. It has been introduced into Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Argentina.
Full Article
Begonia maculata (maculata meaning "spotted"), the polka dot begonia, is a species of begonia native to southeast Brazil. It grows naturally in the understory of the Atlantic rainforest, with occurrences confirmed in the Brazilian states of Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro. It has been introduced into Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Argentina.
Begonia maculata has olive drab colored oblong leaves with silver dots. The undersides of the leaves are red-purple. The plant grows white or pink flowers in clusters with yellow centers on a single stem.
History
B. maculata was first documented by botanists based on a specimen found on the mountain Corcovado in central Rio de Janeiro. Giuseppe Raddi named and described the species in 1820. It is thought B. maculata is one of the 4000 specimens he acquired from a 7-month trip to Brazil in 1817.
Habitat
- Altitude
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- Altitude Class
- —
- Native To
- Cuba, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate