The Begonia picta is a true botanical marvel. This mesmerizing plant, also known as the “Painted-Leaf Begonia”, boasts an array of striking features that make it a favorite among plant enthusiasts and collectors.

This is my favourite Begonia species from the Western ghats…!

The species name ‘picta’ means ‘painted’ referring to the variegation on the leaves.

Painted Perfection – The leaves are medium-sized and asymmetrically shaped, featuring prominent veining and a striking color palette. The most common leaf coloration consists of dark green with silver-white specks and striking red undersides. This contrast is reminiscent of a living canvas splattered with paint, hence the name “Painted-Leaf Begonia.”

Leaf size can vary, but they are generally around 3-6 inches (7.5-15 cm) in length. There are two forms of leaf – One vareigated and another dark form – both of which can be seen below in one frame.

Begonia picta evolves as it grows. The colors and patterns on the leaves may intensify or change slightly as the plant matures, adding to the ever-evolving beauty of this natural artwork.

While Begonia picta is primarily valued for its leaves, it does produce small, inconspicuous flowers. The flowers are typically pink or white and appear on slender stems above the foliage. Although the foliage is striking, the flowers are equally beautiful if you have the patience to take a closer look!

Closeup of the pollen sacs!

The female flowers are very beautiful. Notice the bulged ovary which is absent in the male flowers.

The leaves have a brilliant blue iridescent when light is incident on the correct angle. Below is the same population of Begonia picta photographed with and without turning the flash on. You can see how iridescent blue the leaves shimmer!

Begonia picta is a testament to the artistry of nature. It’s a reminder that we don’t have to look far to find inspiration; sometimes, all we need to do is observe the small, everyday wonders of the natural world. Each leaf of the Begonia picta is a stroke of nature’s brush, a masterpiece that endures and evolves, teaching us to appreciate the art that surrounds us in the simplest and most unexpected places.

The botanical world is a treasure trove of extraordinary plant species, each with its unique characteristics and beauty. Impatiens leschenaultii, often referred to as Leschenault’s Balsam, is a botanical gem that belongs to the family Balsaminaceae.

It was first discovered in the early 19th century by the French botanist Jean-Baptiste Leschenault de La Tour, hence its name.

This plant is native to the Western Ghats of India, a region renowned for its rich biodiversity.

This balsam species thrives in moist, shaded environments, often found growing in the understory of tropical rainforests. It’s well-suited for the cooler, high-altitude regions of the Western Ghats.

The leaves are deeply serrated and glossy green, with silvery veins that create an intricate pattern.

The flowers of Impatiens leschenaultii are small and delicate, usually a pale pink or white.

After pollination, Impatiens leschenaultii produces slender capsules containing seeds. When the capsules mature, they explode upon touch, dispersing the seeds, which is a mechanism characteristic of the Impatiens genus.

Impatiens leschenaultii, like many plant species, faces threats due to habitat loss and deforestation. Conservation efforts are crucial to preserve this botanical gem and the unique biodiversity of the Western Ghats.

Impatiens latifolia is a beautiful species of Impatiens that is endemic to the South Western Ghats. The species name ‘latifolia‘ means ‘with wide leaves’.

The plant’s leaves are of a gorgeous shape!

The plant grows as undershrubs in Shola forests, especially near streams. The flowers are pinkish.

The side view of the flowers shows the curved spur!

The leaves are usually concentrated at the apex of the branches which gives a crown like appearance to the plant.

In the enchanting world of botanical wonders, the Swan Flower, scientifically known as Globba sessiliflora, stands out as a captivating and delicate species.

Globba sessiliflora, also referred to as the Swan Flower, is a tropical and subtropical plant native to Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The common name “Swan Flower” derives from the uncanny resemblance of its flowers to the elegant necks of swans.

Globba sessiliflora typically grows from rhizomes, which are underground stems. The plant forms clumps and can reach heights of 1 to 2 feet.

The plant’s leaves are long, lance-shaped, and feature an attractive dark green color. The leaves grow in pairs along the stem, creating a striking visual effect.

The flowers are primarily small and tubular, but the most captivating part of the plant is the unique, pure white, or pale pink bracts that encase the flowers. These bracts extend outward, creating the graceful swan-like appearance.

Globba sessiliflora has historical significance in traditional medicine and culinary practices. In various Southeast Asian cultures, parts of this plant have been used for their potential medicinal properties and as a culinary ingredient.

Ariopsis peltata is an annual herb distributed in India and Western malaysia. It has beautiful heart shaped ‘peltate’ leaves, hence the species name – peltata. Peltate means the petiole is attached to the middle of the leaf instead of the margin like most plants have.

These plants grow in gregarious groups and it is a sight to behold! Beautiful shield shaped leaves covering a cliff on the roadside.

The plant belongs to the family Araceae. A personal favorite for me .

The plant is usually terrestrial, but can also grow as epiphytes and lithophytes when conditions are favorable.

It has a globose tuber and the leaves and inflorescence rise from the tuber which lies under soil surface. The petioles are 8 to 20 cm long. Peduncle is 2 to 5 cm long and solitary.

The inflorescence is spadix. The spathe yellow or white and is about 3 cm long. The spike is about 2.5 cm long with depressed cavities for androecium. The male flowers are present towards the upper half of the spike while the female flowers are present towards the lower half of the spike. The stigma is 4 lobed.

Fruits are berries, 3 to 6 angled.

Seeds many, linear oblong, ridged longitudinally.

Impatiens elegans – the elegant balsam is a common, yet beautiful species of Balsam found in the Western Ghats of India. It is during the bountiful monsoon months these beautiful plants erupt in abundance and decorate the forest floor, streams and small waterfalls that run through the forests with pretty pink flowers.

Taxonomy

Order : Ericales

Family : Balsaminaceae

Genus : Impatiens

Species : elegans

Distribution

It is found only in the two states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala of India and nowhere else in the world. It grows above the elevation of 1200 meters above sea level and is found up to 1800 meters above sea level. Impatiens elegans is endemic to the Southern Western Ghats. They are found only to the south of Palghat pass. Their range starts from the Nelliyampathy and Anamalai hills and extends up to Agasthiyamalai Hills in the South.

Description

Habit and Habitat

It is a herb that grows up to a height of 30 to 40 cm. It grows near streams, on rocks constantly dripping with water, in the forest floor among leaf litter where it is constantly moist. It prefers to grow in cool, shaded, damp places of the forest where it gets almost a constant dripping of water. Thus, moist evergreen forests occurring at elevations above 1200 MSL support this plant. Wherever the conditions are just right for its survival, it grows in abundance and in huge colonies!

Stem

The stem is erect and branched. The stem roots whenever a node touches the soil. The stem is glabrous, i.e., without hairs. The stem is usually translucent, like glass and succulent. If you crush the stem, it will be very watery which suggests that the plant needs abundant water to thrive well.

Leaves

Leaves are ovate, cordate (heart-shaped at the base). The leaf margin is crenate (with curved tooth) with incurved bristles. The leaves are arranged in an alternate manner on the stems. The leaves may be hairy on nerves on the upper surface and pale and hairless on the lower surface.

Flowers

Each peduncle bears 3 to 5 flowers in short umbels or short raceme like inflorescence. The flowers are about 2.5 cm across, pale pink to pink with a purple center. Bracts are ovate-lanceolate, tapering towards the end and recurved. The lateral sepals are ovate with a green ridge ending in an acumen (a sharp tapering point).

The lip (you have to turn the flower behind to see this) is boat-shaped, very small. The flower lacks a spur. This is an important character to distinguish Impatiens elegans from Impatiens cordata which has a spur. Other than this, both the plants look exactly the same. You can differentiate both these species with the absence and presence of spur (a tail-like appendage that extends from the lip) respectively.

Fruits

Fruits are inflated capsules with seeds. The capsules are ovoid, elliptical, ridged, beaked, bulged in the middle, green, hairless, about 1.2 cm in length. The seeds are sub-spherical and hairy.

When mature, these are ready to burst anytime just with a light touch. This can even be done by a raindrop! The capsule bursts catapulting the seeds away from the mother plant.

Conservation status and threats

Impatiens elegans is an endangered plant where it faces threats from loss of habitats. The habitats in which this plant grows are unfortunately best suited for tea and coffee plantations. There is huge pressure from the private tea plantations extending their area by destroying their habitat. These delicate plants already face huge pressure from climate change, failing monsoons and lack of pollinators, poor seed germination, flowers and leaves eaten by herbivore insects, and more from nature! Destruction of habitats is yet another death blow to the survival of these plants. It is necessary to preserve their habitats and preserve these species…

More Photos!

References and Further Reading

1. Valparai Plant Trip – Happy Botanist
2. Impatiens elegans – Flowers of India
3. A research article on the reproductive biology of Impatiens elegans