B. monicae

Herba pusilla subacaulis foliis erectis petiolo gracile usque ad 2,5 cm longo lamina bipinnatisecta, 3-5 x 3-5 cm lobulis 2 mm latis angustis, acutis. Inflorescentia erecta, pauciflora. Florum MALE tepala 4 externa majora 9-12 x 6-7 mm: staminibus 25-30 filamentis basi connatis, columna 1,5-2 mm alta, antheribus 1,5 mm longis. Florum FEMALE tepala 6, 7-12 mm; styli 3 bifidi stigmatibus hippocrepicis paulo torquatis. Dwarf plant sub-acaulate, leaves upright; felted petiole, 1.3-2 (-2.5) cm shorter than the blade bearing small glandular hairs; blade broadly ovate, 3-5 X 3-5 cm deeply bipennatic, with narrow lobes (1-2 mm) and acute appearing glabrous but with tiny scattered glandular hairs. Inflorescence pauciflorous 2-3 flowers), shorter than leaves; peduncle also bearing some tiny glands 3-5 cm long. Pink flowers. MALE flowers have 4 tepals, the outer obovalea rounded at the top, 9-12 X 6-7 mm, the internal smaller and narrower. Stamens are numerous in the basal part of the veins in a high column of 1, 5-2 mm with a very short, smooth portion; antheres 1.5 mm long. FEMALE flowers a (4-5-) 6 tepals 7-12 mm long a little uneven. Ovary has 3 wings, one more developed, oval rounded at the extremity, the other two reduced; free style bifid, long 3-4 mm stigma horseshoe bit twisted. - Pl. 3 p. 21. TYP: Decary 138 (holo- P). This dwarf Begonia has very characteristic leaves distinguishing it from all other known species in Madagascar. This type of leaf "filicifolia" recalls that species from New Guinea or the Western Pacific (B. oligandra Merr & Perry, B. bipinnatifida JJ Smith, B. warburgii Laut & Schum.), but the Madagascar species is dwarf, very short-stemmed and presents original floral characters.
Pests Diseases

• Classification: Species
• Plant Type: Tuberous
• Botanical Section: Erminea
• Origin: Africa, Madagascar
• Originator: Aymonin & Bosser, Fl. Madagascar
• Date of Origin: 1983