Begonia megaptera


Begonia megaptera, otherwise known as the large winged begonia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, native to Nepal, the eastern Himalaya, Assam, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Very rare in its native habitat, it is cultivated as an ornamental and medicinal plant.

Etymology

The genus name, Begonia, was coined by botanist Charlies Plumier in honor of Michel Bégon, while megaptera refers to the plants large winglike leaves. "Mega" originates from the Ancient Greek word μέγας, meaning "great" or "large," whilst "ptera" is derived from the Ancient Greek word "pteron," meaning "wing" or "feather".