Begonia bouffordii C. I Peng

Similar to Begonia chitoensis, this species can be distinguished by its smaller stature (often acaulescent), reddish purple petiole, and glabrous, succulent leaf blade with reddish purple veins abaxially.

Herbs, rhizomatous, to 25 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping. Stems absent or rather short, to 8(-15) cm. Leaves basal or sometimes cauline; stipules caducous, narrowly ovate to ovate, to 7 × 3.5 mm, glabrous, margin entire, apex acuminate; petiole to 16 cm, glabrous; blade abaxially reddish purple on veins, ovate, asymmetric, 9-16(-18) × 5-6(-10) cm, succulent, nearly glabrous, venation palmate, base obliquely obtuse, margin subentire, apex acuminate. Inflorescences to 25 cm; peduncle to 17 cm; bracts caducous, narrowly ovate to ovate, to 8 mm, glabrous, margin entire, apex acuminate. Staminate flowers: tepals 4(or 6), pale pink, outer 2 broadly orbicular to orbicular, 1.5-1.9 × 1.5-1.8 cm, inner 2(or 4) oblanceolate to narrowly obovate, 10-17 × 6-9 mm; stamens 68-84; filaments free, 1.1-1.7 mm; anthers narrowly obovoid, 0.9-1.5 mm. Pistillate flowers: tepals 5, pinkish, unequal to subequal, narrowly obovate to broadly obovate, glabrous, largest 1-2.3 × 1.1-2.3 cm, smallest 8-19 × 4-16 mm; ovary glabrous, 2-loculed; placentae axile, bilamellate or 4-cleft; styles 2, fused at base; stigmas 2-cleft, spiraled. Capsule nodding, unequally 3-winged; abaxial wing broadly elliptic to orbicular, 1.8-2.5 cm; lateral wings smaller. 2n = 38*.

Taiwan (Nantou).

● Shaded rocky slopes; 300-400 m.