Begonia lithophila C. Y. Wu

Herbs, deciduous. Tubers 8-15 mm in diam. Leaves 1 or 2, basal; stipules caducous; petiole 2-12 cm, glabrous or subglabrous; blade often reddish abaxially, 5-parted, asymmetric, 7-17 × 3-17 cm, abaxially subglabrous, adaxially sparsely hirsute, base cordate, margin serrulate, distinctly divided to 1/2 of leaf length or more; lobes 2-9 cm, apex acuminate. Inflorescences terminal, racemose at base, 12-18(-20) cm, glabrous or subglabrous; bracts oblong-lanceolate, 5-8 mm, margin glandular ciliate. Staminate flowers: pedicel 1-1.8 cm; tepals 4, outer 2 broadly ovate, 10-12 × 7-8 mm, glabrous, inner 2 elliptic, ca. 10 × 3-4 mm; stamens numerous; filaments 1-1.3 cm, free; anthers obovoid, ca. 0.9 mm. Pistillate flowers: tepals 3, outer 2 broadly oblong, ca. 10 × 8 mm, inner 1 oblong, ca. 7 × 2 mm; ovary oblong, glabrous, 3-loculed; placentae axile, undivided; styles 3, ca. 1.5 mm, free; stigmas 2-cleft, spiraled. Capsule pendulous, ellipsoid, unequally 3-winged; abaxial wing lanceolate, ca. 3 cm; lateral wings smaller. Fl. Sep-Oct, fr. Nov. 2n = 24*.

Yunnan (Lunan, Yiliang).

● Uplifted coral rocks, limestone caves; 1700-2000 m.