Begonia cucullata Willd.

Plants perennial (rhizomatous), usually glabrous, sometimes sparsely hairy. Stems [10–]30–70[–100] cm. Leaves: stipules lanceolate to oblong, 7–19 × 3–6 mm; petiole 5–46 mm, glabrous; blade asymmetric, ovate to ± reniform, (28–)46–72[–80] × (28–)33–85 mm, base cuneate on shorter side, usually rounded on longer one, margins not lobed, crenate, teeth apices setose, otherwise eciliate, apex obtuse, surfaces glabrous (or glabrate to sparsely hairy in Alabama specimens). Peduncles 22–75 mm (in fruit); bracts lanceolate to ovate. Flowers white to pink; staminate: tepals 4, outer 2 (sepals) suborbiculate or reniform, 7–10 mm, inner 2 (petals) narrowly obovate, 5–7 mm; stamens 24–33; pistillate: tepals 4 or 5, obovate, 6–9 mm. Capsules 8–15 × 6–12 mm, larger wings deltate-rounded, 10–17 mm wide, smaller 3.5–5 mm wide. 2n = 34, 56 (South America).

A tropical plant. It grows in rainforests and disturbed areas up to 3,000 m above sea level.

The leaves are eaten as a cooling salad.

Plants can be grown from seeds or stem or leaf cuttings.