Begonia glabra Aubl., Begoniaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Stem scandent, rooting at the nodes, glabrous; stipules persistent, ovate-oblong, setiferous at apex, entire, 10-22 mm. long, petioles 1-8 cm. long, leaf-blades variable, straight, nearly symmetrical, broadly ovate, 4-12 cm. long, short-acuminate, rounded or barely cordate at base, sparsely serrate and ciliate to entire, glabrous; peduncles axillary, 6-12 cm. long; cymes unisexual, many-flowered, diffuse; bracts persistent, minute; pedicels 6-17 mm. long, fine; staminate tepals 4, entire, white, the outer broadly obovate, 3-6 mm. long, the inner narrower; stamens free, few, anthers oblong; pistillate flowers minutely bracteolate; pistillate tepals 5, elliptic, 4-6 mm. long; styles 3, 2-parted, completely covered by stigmatic papillae, placentae simple; capsule erect, ellipsoid, 6-12 mm. long, the largest wing oblong to deltoid, spreading or barely ascending, 10-23 mm. wide, the other two marginiform, very narrow"  (Standley & Williams, 1961; p. 168).

Habitat/ecology:  In Guatemala (native), "Epiphytic and terrestrial in forest, 75-1,300 meters"  (Standley & Williams, 1961; p. 168).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Mexico, West Indies, Central and South America (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island		Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.) (1960) (voucher ID: BISH 42878) Taxon name on voucher: Begonia glabra Aubl.

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	introduced	Randall, R. P. (2007) (p. 69)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	Standley, Paul C./Williams, Louis Otho (1961) (p. 168)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Chiapas, Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, Tabasco, Veracruz
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Begonia glabra, please let us know.