Begonia gracilis aka Alita De Ngel

Begonia gracilis is a small, perennial herbaceous begonia native to the mountains of Mexico, where it ranges from Chihuahua in the north to Chiapas in the south. It is a slender plant — the specific epithet gracilis means "slender" — typically reaching 25 to 50 cm in height, with reddish lines along the stems and alternate, wing-shaped leaves that have gently wavy margins. In its native range it grows in cloud forests, oak forests and pine forests at elevations of roughly 2,040 to 2,600 m, almost always in protected, shaded locations among other vegetation.

The flowers are pink and somewhat fleshy, often described as resembling small open clams. They are borne in clusters at the junctions of leaves and stems, and like all begonias they are unisexual, with male and female flowers on the same plant. After flowering, the species produces winged capsular fruits containing numerous tiny seeds.

In Mexico the plant is known by several local names, including alita de ángel ("little angel wing"), chipile, orejita de guajolote ("little turkey ear"), totoncaxoxocoyollin, yerba de la doncella and begonia malvarrosa. It has a long history in Mexican traditional medicine: the crushed root, mixed with a suitable liquid vehicle, was used as an intestinal purgative, and preparations were also applied to treat inflamed eyes. Phytochemical analyses of the species have detected alkaloids, flavonoids and saponins, which is consistent with its traditional purgative reputation.

Like other Begonia species, B. gracilis contains soluble calcium oxalates, with the highest concentration in the underground portions; the ASPCA lists begonias as toxic to dogs, cats and horses, and NC State Extension classifies the genus as a low-severity poison whose roots are most toxic and whose sap can cause contact dermatitis. The species is rarely cultivated outside of botanical and specialist begonia collections; general begonia culture suggests bright but indirect light, moist but well-drained soil rich in organic matter, slightly acidic to neutral pH (around 5.5–6.5), and protection from frost, since the genus as a whole is hardy only in roughly USDA zones 10–11.