[12], African violets are commonly propagated asexually. Each species has its own specific habitat unique to East Africa. Growing African violets from seed is rare and most commercially available plants are produced from cuttings and tissue culture. Taylor, had earlier collected and submitted specimens to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in 1884 and 1887 respectively, but the quality of specimens was insufficient to permit scientific description at that time. There are many types of African Violet. SCI. ionantha. Verzeichnis eponymischer Pflanzennamen. In 1892, British colonists discovered African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha) growing on moist, mossy rocks in their native Tanzanian habitat. Plants can be divided into smaller daughter plants or even grown from leaf cuttings. Most of the African violet sites are located in Tanzania. Several of the species and subspecies of the section are endangered, and many more are threatened, as their native cloud forest habitats are cleared for agriculture. It's a lot more humid there than it is in the average home! Wild species can have violet, purple, pale blue, or white flowers.[2]. © Steve | CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 The African Violet Society of America is the International Cultivar Registration Authority for the section and its cultivars. Palisade Cells Induced by a Rapid Temperature Decrease", "Cultural Guidelines for Commercial Production of African Violets (Saintpaulia ionantha)", African Violet Society of America website, African Violet in Romania - Pasionata de violete africane, Gesneriad Reference Web Saintpaulia article, Baby Violets - African Violet Houseplants, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Streptocarpus_sect._Saintpaulia&oldid=987829878, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing potentially dated statements from March 2020, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 9 November 2020, at 14:04. 3. Their habitat resides in the understory of the tropical forests, where they are now being threatened due to the clear cutting of the land for agricultural uses. African violets, which are generally shade-loving plants that thrive in moist wet areas, were first introduced to science in 1891 via some enthusiastic German nuns. Also known as Saintpaulias, African Violets are beautiful perennial flowering plants that are native to Tanzania and the southeastern part of Kenya in eastern tropical Africa. This immensely popular flowering houseplant, the African Violet, is native to Tanzania and Kenya. SOC. The tiny seeds are produced in a capsule. [15][16], African violets have long been associated with mothers and motherhood. The section was initially regarded as a separate genus. [14], The African violet is a day-neutral plant regarding flower development. [13] Growing multiple African violets in a large container mimics their native habitat – a rainforest floor of porous, loose, fertile soil. For this reason they have been a traditional gift to mothers in many cultures around the world. 119(4):727–734. 2018. The genus Saintpaulia is named in honour of Walter, Freiherr (baron) von Saint Paul-Illaire, a German colonial official who is credited with their discovery in German East Africa (now Tanzania) in 1892. HORT. By the early 1900s, they were introduced to the rest of the world for cultivation. The common types of this plant are: Not Available. Many gardeners have them as outdoor plants but they’re typically kept indoors. African violet, (genus Saintpaulia), any of the six species of flowering plants in the genus Saintpaulia (family Gesneriaceae). National Geographic author Andrew Evans has written an eye-opening look at the delicate state of African violets in their native habitat, where unscrupulous gatherers are plucking rare species from the jungle to sell to collectors. African violets are one of the easiest and most adaptable flowering houseplants to grow, as they do well in the conditions found in most homes. African violets that you buy are almost certainly hybrids, generally of one main species (Saintpaulia ionantha). [6], A molecular phylogenetic study in 2015 confirmed previous studies showing that species placed in Saintpaulia were deeply embedded within the genus Streptocarpus,[7] supporting the transfer of all Saintpaulia species to Streptocarpus in 2012. Flower colour in the wild species can be violet, purple, pale blue, or white. In their native habitat, in the Usambara Mountains of East Africa, the relative humidity is generally about 70 to 80 percent. Saintpaulia is a section within Streptocarpus subgenus Streptocarpella[1] consisting of about ten species of herbaceous perennial flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae, native to Tanzania and adjacent southeastern Kenya in eastern tropical Africa. Several species are endangered. If you are wondering what is African Violet or want to know all About African Violet, then you are just at the right place. Achetez neuf ou d'occasion The District Commissioner of Tanga, Baron W. Saint Paul Illaire, sent specimens onto Germany where they were formally described in his honor as Saintpaulia. Modeling Inflorescence Development of the African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl.). The genus was named for Saint Paul-Illaire and his father. African violets, formerly known by their botanical name Saintpaulia but now included within Streptocarpus , make attractive houseplants originating from tropical East Africa. They produce delicate blue-violet and white flowers under optimal conditions. These wild species vary in all aspects of growth habit and form, and flowers range in color from nearly white to dark purple. Following studies which showed most of the species to be very poorly differentiated, both genetically and morphologically, the number of species was reduced to six in a 2006 treatment, with the majority of former species reduced to subspecies under S. Noté /5. Habitat African violets are native to Tanzania and Kenya, favouring a tropical climate. Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia is a section within Streptocarpus subgenus Streptocarpella consisting of about ten species of herbaceous perennial flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae, native to Tanzania and adjacent southeastern Kenya in eastern tropical Africa. [5] In 2009, 9 species, 8 subspecies, and 2 varieties were recognized. Hundreds of horticultural varieties have been developed for their various flower colours and shapes, including half-sized miniatures. If you’re anything like me, you’ve killed at least one poor African violet in your lifetime due to neglect. [14], section of a genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae, MacDonald, Elvin "The World Book of House Plants" Popular Books. It was given its common name because of its resemblance to a traditional violet. African violets are still growing in the wild African cloud woods, although some of the species are endangered because their natural habitats are being cleared for agricultural use. Essentially, it thrives in typical rainforest conditions – hot and moist, yet well-drained and deeply shaded. The little African violet, one of America's favorite flowering houseplants, is in big trouble in its native habitat. [3] Two British plant enthusiasts, Sir John Kirk and the Reverend W.E. African Violets are native to eastern tropical Africa. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Another solution is to grow some African violet relatives, such as Streptocarpus or Chirita. 1994. The members of … If the level of humidity is much less than this, an African Violet's … [10][11], Saintpaulias are highly sensitive to temperature changes, especially rapid leaf cooling. As the name implies, African violets are native to the cloud forests in the mountains of east Africa. Their native habitats are fog forests, which can be referred to as mossy or cloud forests, and they are characterized by frequent low-level cloud cover at … While this level of humidity would be difficult to maintain in most homes, you should try to provide your African Violets with at least 50 to 60 percent humidity. Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire (1860–1940) was the district commissioner of Tanga province when he discovered the plant in Tanganyika (now Tanzania) in Africa in 1892 and sent seeds back to his father, an amateur botanist in Germany. They grow into cascading vines in their native habitat and are known for their soft fuzzy foliage. Viola sempervirens: Evergreen Violets Another woodland violet for moist conditions, V. sempervirens can be found in mossy, mostly-shady areas from low to mid-elevations, so it is happiest in similarly moist, shady to partly sunny spots in the garden. Streptocarpus sect. The section was previously treated as a separate genus, Saintpaulia, but molecular phylogenetic studies showed that it was nested within the genus Streptocarpus. The leaves are rounded to oval, 2.5–8.5 cm long with a 2–10 cm petiole, finely hairy, and have a fleshy texture. African Violet is native to Eastern Africa. [7][9], Formerly recognized Saintpaulia species and infraspecies are listed below with their accepted name in Streptocarpus.[9]. [7], All the species previously placed in the genus Saintpaulia are now placed in Streptocarpus section Saintpaulia. Of all the house plants on the market today, the African Violet is #1. Corrections? African violets that you buy are almost certainly hybrids, generally of one main species (Saintpaulia ionantha). James E. Faust and Royal D. Heins, J. AMER. [8] Former Saintpaulia species did form a monophyletic group, and were placed in section Saintpaulia of Streptocarpus subgenus Streptocarpella. Erweiterte Edition. Although the size per category is not set in stone, these are a general guideline. Until recently, only a few of these species have been used in breeding programs for the hybrids available in the market; most available as house plants are cultivars derived from Streptocarpus ionanthus (syn. Enthusiasts growers have actually seen them growing there, in the wild, either in the south, in Uzungwa Mountains National Park or up north, in Amani natural reserve in Usambara Mountains . Several of the species and subspecies are endangered, and many more are threatened, due to clearance of their native cloud forest habitat for agriculture. African violets are one of the easiest and most adaptable flowering houseplants to grow, as they do well in the conditions found in most homes. vol. The native habitat of African Violets is the equatorial cloud forests of Tanzania and Kenya. Saintpaulia ionantha, Stromme E, 1985, p. 48–49. This biodiversity hotspot is renowned for its high number of endemic species. African violets do not grow naturally anywhere else in the world. Species and cultivars are commonly called African violets (although they are not closely related to true violets) or saintpaulias. The scientific name of African violets -- Saintpaulia -- reflects this German colonial past. The number of varieties of this plant is found to be 40000. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/plant/African-violet. Because its natural habitat is rapidly disappearing due to clearing of land for agriculture, the conservation status of most species is listed as near-threatened. There is a concentration of species in the Nguru mountains of Tanzania. The native habitat of an African Violet is the mountains of East Africa. To date, there are 21 species, six variants, and two natural hybrids of African violets have been identified in the wild. Native African Violets grow in the high cloud forest of Udzungwa National Park, Tanzania. Several of the species and subspecies of the section are endangered, and many more are threatened, due to their native cloud forest habitats being cleared for agriculture. These dark green leaves have long petioles (leaf stems) and are arranged in a basal cluster at the base of the plant. There are seven main cultural factors you should be aware of to ensure their success. CRC handbook of flowering. Revisions of the genus by B.L. Some Viola species are perennial plants, some are annual plants, and a few are small shrubs. Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. International Cultivar Registration Authority, "The Great Merger – Current Taxonomic Status | Gesneriad Reference Web", "On African violets and Cape primroses—towards a monophyletic, "Sudden Collapse of Vacuoles in Saintpaulia sp. Native to higher elevations in tropical eastern Africa, African violets are widely grown horticulturally, especially S. ionantha. This is thought to be because rapid leaf cooling causes cell vacuole collapse in the palisade mesophyll cells. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. They are available in a many colours from white, through pink and red to purple and various flower types. There are seven main cultural factors you should be aware of to ensure their success. The section was previously treated as a separate genus, Saintpaulia, but molecular phylogenetic studies showed that it was nested within the genus Streptocarpus. [4], Revisions of the genus by B.L. The violet-like flowers are bilaterally symmetric with five petals and can be violet, white, or pink in colour. The members of Saintpaulia are small perennial herbs with thick, hairy, ovate leaves. To increase the humidity around your plants, you can group them together (but not so close that their leaves are touching. They are found growing in moist, mossy rock crevices where there is always high humidity, moderate temperatures between 65-80 degrees, and 12 hours of bright diffuse daylight year-round. They are commonly used as indoor houseplants, but can also be kept as outdoor plants in certain climates. African violets are also associated with Easter and Valentine's Day. With literally thousands of named varieties to choose from and new hybrid varieties being introduced each year, the connoisseur of African violets can have "billions of blossoms" year round. The flowers are 2–3 cm in diameter, with a five-lobed velvety corolla ("petals"), and grow in clusters of 3–10 or more on slender stalks called peduncles. Traductions en contexte de "african violet" en anglais-français avec Reverso Context : It is best to feed an African violet more frequently and at reduced strength. Viola is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae.It is the largest genus in the family, containing between 525 and 600 species. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. S. kewensis). African violet, (genus Saintpaulia), any of the six species of flowering plants in the genus Saintpaulia (family Gesneriaceae). Plants can be classified as one of several sizes based on its above-ground diameter. It is more compact and diminutive than V. glabella, but with similar yellow flowers. African violets are easy to get your hands on, fun to grow, and bring a splash of color and cheer to your home. Two sites should be classed as high-priority for conservation–the Ulugura and Nguru Mountains, based upon DNA analyses of the genus Saintpaulia . There is a concentration of species in the Nguru mountains of Tanzania. As with relatively warm temperatures, humidity is vital to the health of African Violets. Burtt expanded the genus to approximately 20 species. The genus Saintpaulia, and original species S. ionantha, were scientifically described by H. Wendland in 1893. Most species are found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere; however, some are also found in widely divergent areas such as Hawaii, Australasia, and the Andes.. Saintpaulias, which grow from 6–15 cm tall, can be anywhere from 6–30 cm wide. In: A. Halevy (ed.). The False African violet is a member of the true African violet family and is native to East Africa. In Colorado False African violets can be used as a potted plant or in a hanging basket. Burtt had expanded the genus to approximately 20 species. Smithsonian World Checklist of the Gesneriaceae. African Violets - Saintpaulia General Information. Such violets are endemic to the Usambara Mountains, which are part of the Eastern Arc Mountain Range, a nonglaciated area with consistent climate. And one of the most common complaints about them is they never bloom once you get them home from the nursery. Many of the native plants are threatened or endangered due to habitat loss. A wider range of species is now being looked at as sources of genes to introduce into modern cultivars. The conservation status of Streptocarpus ionanthus has been classed as near-threatened. Saintpaulias are widely cultivated as house plants. Burkhardt, Lotte. Retrouvez African Violets: In Search of the Wild Violets et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. Saintpaulias are native to eastern tropical Africa. Spilling cold water on African violet leaves causes discoloration. African violets are native to Tanzania, where they were discovered in the late 1800s. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Unfortunately, the native cloud-forest habitat of Saintpaulia is under threat from encroaching agriculture. Updates? Plants grow in different regions and habitats. African violets are not violets (family Violaceae, genus Viola) but are included in the family Gesneriaceae, genus Saintpaulia. The plants get their common name "African violet" from their superficial resemblance to true violets (Viola, family Violaceae). Easily propagated from leaf cuttings, African violets are common indoor houseplants that can thrive in low light conditions and bloom throughout the year. 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