Begonia madaiensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, endemic to Mount Madai,Borneo. It is a cane begonia that grows in limestone.
Distribution and habitat There are 18 different species of begonia native to the 59 limestone hills in Sabah. Of these hills, 22 are protected by the Rafflesia Forest Reserve. The rest are no longer surrounded by forest, or lie within commercial forests that have been or will be logged. Because of the lack of forest, the flora on these hills are particularly vulnerable to fire. Quarrying, the collection of bird's nests, and tourism also degrade the environment.
Of the 18 begonia species, 12 are endemic to a single hill. B. madaiensis is one of these. + Distribution of Begonia species on limestone in SabahDistrictLocalitySpeciesSpecies found on single hillsPensianganBatu Punggul/Batu TinahasBegonia amphioxus Begonia anthonyiPensianganSapulutBegonia layang-layangPensianganBatu UrunBegonia urunensisPensianganPun BatuBegonia punbatuensisKinabatanganBukit Dulung LambuBegonia gomantongensis Begonia malachosticaKinabatanganMelikopBegonia melikopiaLahad DatuMount MadaiBegonia madaiensisLahad DatuBukit BaturongBegonia berhamanii Begonia baturongensisSempornaBatu TengarBegonia keithiiSpecies found on several hills in the same areaPensianganBatu Punggul/Tinaha, SapulutBegonia lambiiKinabatanganKinabatangan Valley (3 hills)Begonia postariiKinabatanganKinabatangan Valley (3 hills)Begonia heliostropheLahad DatuSegama River (5 hills)Begonia diwolii Begonia keeanaWidespread on limestone in SabahBegonia gueritziana
Plant physiology Begonia madaiensis is unique among begonias in that it can live in full-sun. It will not flower in deep-shade. Like other Sabah limestone begonias, it has relatively small flowers.
Etymology The specific epithet refers to Mount Madai, where B. madaiensis is endemic.
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