The Begoniaceae or begonia family has about 1400 species in only two genera! Even more amazing than that, all but one of the species are in genus Begonia, the other in genus Hillebrandia endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The family is mainly confined to the tropics but does reach as far north as the Ryukyu Islands and as far south as South Africa. Primarily semi-succulent herbs and small shrubs, the leaves are alternate and quite stipulate with asymmetrical blades and the flowers are in a cymose inflorescence with undifferentiated sepals and petals but often opposite and unequal pairs. The fruits are capsules or berries with numerous minute seeds. Begonias have been extensively cultivated as house and garden plants with some 10,000 recorded cultivars. The name Begonia honors the 17th century French patron of botany Michel Bégon, governor of French Canada and San Domingo.