Begonia afromigrata NEW!
Begonia afromigrata belongs to section Tetraphila that consist of 30 other species, which are all endemic to Africa. This is only the first and still the one reported in SE Asia, showing transgressing continental borders. A dated molecular phylogeny places the split of the new Asian species from its African congeners during the late Miocene to the early Pleistocene. As the species is a hygromesophilous epiphyte limited to tropical forest, no suitable corridor for migration existed during that time and the cause of the Afro-Asian disjunction probably is a long-distance dispersal event. The discovery this specie emphasises the importance of chance in the assembly of tropical floras.
In SE Asia, it is a locally endemic specie, with only two populations. The one in South-Western Thailand and another in Vang Vieng Valley, Central Laos. They usually found climbing on upper tree-trunk in dense evergreen forest. Their thick and succulent leaves can grow to 5'' long and 3'' across and highlighted with rosy pink flowers with a white edge, which borne on the leaf axils along the large creeping rhizomes.
We are probably the first nursery produces this extremely rare specie for sale. Our offerings are cloned from our specimens collected in South-Western Thailand. Seem not overly difficult. Neutral to acidic medium that never fully dries out is preferred.
Offered are cutting-grown plants, established in 3" pot
*This item can be shipped in pot*