The Begonias are native to moist subtropical and tropical climates. Some species are commonly grown indoors as ornamental houseplants in cooler climates. In cooler climates some species are cultivated outside in summertime for their bright colourful flowers, which have sepals but no petals. KSCSTE – MBGIPS has a vast collection of ornamental and wild varieties of Begonias.

Similarly, the Balsams. We initiated the conservation of wild balsams of the Western Ghats. The genus Impatiens commonly known as Balsams or “jewel weeds” comprising the family Balsaminaceae are mainly distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the old world as well as in the Northern temperate regions. They are either terrestrial, epiphytic or lithophytic grows in the moist humid areas in the evergreen, semi evergreen or grass land ecosystems. Most of the wild species have great horticultural values because of the elegant flowers.