Begonia dracopelta Ardi is a beautiful, smaller-growing Begonia with stunning bullate foliage and contrasting leaf blade colouration.
Etymology: The specific epithet is a compound of draco (Latin–dragon) and pelté (Latin–shield). It refers to strongly bullate or lacunose lamina which are resembling to the rough texture (lacunose) of a borneo endemic earless monitor (Lanthanotus borneensis) skin.
Genus name was established in mid 18th century: modern Latin, named in honour of the French administrator and amateur botanist Michel Bégon (1638–1710) by the botanist Charles Plumier (1646–1704), who discovered the plant on the island of Santo Domingo.
Begonia dracopelta
Begonia dracopelta is approx. 20 cm tall and comes in a ⌀ 14 cm pot.
