Bonnetia

I proudly present Bonnetia anceps, one of the species I wrote a my monograph on, formely a member of the Camellia family (Theaceae), now ...Read Moreboradly recognized as part of an independent family (Bonnetiaceae). It doesn´t even have a popular name, since, besides hardcore scientists, no one knows about this plant. It´s a shrub native from brazilian coastal areas, living in seasonal ponds and swamps in large colonies - although it´s not easy to find them.

The shrub gets more erect than densely branched - taller than wide - reaching up to 4m tall. It has softly serrated, glossy leaves, mostly on the tip of the branches. The flowers are beautiful. Large, sweet scented, white petals with random pink stripes and yellow stamens. Flowers during the summer. The fruits are rippening capsules that sows off hundreds of minuscle seeds.

I never managed to get plantlets from this, from seeds or cuttings. It needs a mixture of clay with little sand and lots of water. However, it must dry in spring in order to estimulate the production of flowers

This is an endangered species