Abstract:

Twenty-six species in the genus Begonia were recorded for different purposes as medicine, food, beverage and pig feed in China ( ornamental uses excluded ). Among these twenty-six species recorded for different uses, twenty-four species are used as medicine, eight species are used as food (vegetable ) or beverage, and five species are used as pig feed. Three species are commonly used for making beverage in the areas of their natural distribution. Nine species have multiple uses, either for medicine, for food, beverage or pig feed. Our study also indicated that some species are becoming rare and endangered owning to over collection and other factors.

Key words: Begonia