| Begonia homonyma | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Cucurbitales |
| Family: | Begoniaceae |
| Genus: | Begonia |
| Species: | B. homonyma |
| Binomial name | |
| Begonia homonyma Steud. | |
| Synonyms | |
List
| |
Begonia homonyma, also known as the large-leaved wild begonia(EN), wildebegonia(Afr.), and idlula(Zul.) [1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, endemic to the Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal. It is a tuberous geophyte. [2]
B. homonyma is one of five indigenous Begonia species native to South Africa, the others being Begonia dregei , Begonia geranioides , Begonia sonderiana , and Begonia sutherlandii . [1] Much like Begonia dregei , B. homonyma has a swollen caudex, which can grow up to 8 cm in diameter, and the plant itself can get up to a meter tall. [3] The species is so similar to B. dregei that they have sometimes been considered variations of the same plant, [4] but B. homonyma can be distinguished by its leaves, which are larger, minimally lobed, and have raised veins. [1]
B. homonyma is used traditionally by the Zulu people [5] to treat chest ailments. [1]
