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Family Begoniaceae
Begonia
Begonia coccinea Hook.

ANGEL-WING BEGONIA

Scientific names Common names
Begonia coccinea Hook Begonia (Tag., Engl.)
Pritzelia coccinea (Hook) Klotzsch Angel wing begonia (Engl.)
  Cane stemmed begonia (Engl.)
  Coral begonia (Engl.)
   
Begonia coccinea Hook. is an accepted name The Plant List

Gen info
- There are many species, hybrids and horticultural varieties of begonia, widely cultivated in the Philippines for its ornamental foliage and flowers. There are three types: (1) Fibrous rooted with dull or bright green leaves or variegated in hybrids (2) rhizomatous, with thick underground stems and large and long-stalked leaves (3) tuberous-rooted with their attractive showy flowers.
- Angel wing name derives from the large leaves shaped like wings of an angel; a common name to a number of Begonia species.

Botany
Begonia coccinea with fibrous rooted herbaceous perennial with erect, branched stems growing to 1.3 meters tall. Leaves are leathery, obliquely-oblong to ovate, 10 to 15 centimeters long and 5 to 8 centimeters wide, with slightly toothed, undulate edges. Flowers are in axillary, pendulous racemes with red peduncles. Female flowers are three-winged with a red ovary. Fruit is a triangular capsule, up to 8 centimeters long and three-winged.

Distribution
- Widely cultivated in the Philippines for ornamental use.
- Native to Brazil.

Parts utilized
Flowers, leaves, roots.

Properties
Anodyne, ophthalmic, antiphlogistic, antispasmodic.

Uses
Folkloric
- Not known for folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
- In other countries, it has been written up for the medicinal uses of its flowers.
- Flower infusions used to promote blood circulation and elimination of toxins from the body.
- Poultice of flowers used for burns and toxic sores.
Begonia picta
- Juice of the plants is drunk to use relieve headaches.
- Poultice of crushed leaves for sore and irritated nipples.
- Roots of the juice used for conjunctivitis.
- Also used for peptic ulcer.
Begonia grandis evansiana (Andrews.)Irmsch.
- The tuberous roots and fruits are anodyne, antiphlogistic and antispasmodic.
- Decoction used in the treatment of traumatic pain, haematemesis, gonorrhoea, postpartum vaginal discharge, amenorrhoea and snakebites.

Studies
No studies found.


Availability
Cultivated.


Last Updated April 2015

Photos © Godofredo Stuart / StuartXchange

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Plants for A future. Begonia picta

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Begonia+picta


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