Begonia chlorosticta

Morphology

About

Begonia chlorosticta, described by Sands, is a rare Bornean rhizomatous species from the rainforest understory of Sarawak — growing in deep shade on moist, well-drained humus-rich substrate among leaf litter and decaying organic matter, with the high humidity and stable warmth of a tropical forest environment maintained year-round. The leaves are the plant's entire spectacle: asymmetrical, ovate to heart-ovate blades of dark foliage patterned with luminous lime-green spots of considerable intensity, subtly bullate in texture, borne on reddish petioles with deep red undersides. Growth proceeds from a creeping rhizome at substrate level, forming compact clumps. Among the spotted begonias of Borneo, chlorosticta occupies a position at the very top of the collector hierarchy for the sheer contrast between its near-black blade and the vivid chartreuse spotting.