Photo above: Male inflorescence of Begonia gigantica. Credit: Daike Tian

Zangnan (southern Tibet) of China is located to the south of the Himalayas, including most parts of Cona, Lhünzê, Mêdog and Zayü counties, and some smaller parts of Nang and Mainling counties (Liu 2019).

This region is very warm and rainy because of the southwest monsoon carrying heavy water and heat from the Indian Ocean.

Owing to high average annual precipitation and high-proportion of forest coverage (Hao et al. 2010), the plant diversity is very high in Zangnan. However, this area still remains under-explored and needs more study in the future.

Photo: The research team measures the height of a Begonia giganticaulis individual at its collection site. Photo by Qing-Gong Mao.

One of the largest begonia specimens the group found was 3.6 meters (11.8 feet) tall and close to 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) in diameter.

To measure the World's Tallest Begonia, Tian stood on top of a vehicle. The unwieldy specimen had to be carried back to the lab in Shanghai cut into four sections.

Photo: The research team poses with a specimen of Begonia giganticaulis at the first Chinese begonia show in Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden. Photo by Meiqin Zhu

Because fewer than 1,000 individual plants are estimated to live in the fragmented forest habitat, the species has been classified as endangered according to the IUCN Red List. Scientists say additional populations may be found when more surveys are conducted in the China-India border region.

Photo above: Begonia gigantica exhibited at the first Chinese begonia show in Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden. Credit: Daike Tian

Asia is home to many wild begonia species, including an estimated 300 species in China. There, the colorful, flowering plants with their unique leaf shapes are illegally collected and over harvested for ornamental or medicinal use, a trend driven by increased internet commerce.

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