The peacock begonia is characterized by its broad, asymmetric leaves which display a remarkable blue iridescence under certain lighting conditions. This iridescence is not only aesthetically pleasing but also a subject of scientific interest. The leaves appear typically green under low light but reflect a vivid blue metallic color when viewed from different angles, particularly under bright, indirect light. This optical phenomenon is due to the crystalline structure of precisely stacked photosynthetic structures called thylakoids within the chloroplasts of cells at the leaf surface. These scatter light in blue or green wavelengths, much like the way tiny filaments in iridescent peacock feathers do, hence its common name!