The conservation status of Streptocarpus ionanthus has been classed as near-threatened. 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. These wild species vary in all aspects of growth habit and form, and flowers range in color from nearly white to dark purple. 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. The scientific name of African violets -- Saintpaulia -- reflects this German colonial past. The members of … It's a lot more humid there than it is in the average home! Easily propagated from leaf cuttings, African violets are common indoor houseplants that can thrive in low light conditions and bloom throughout the year. There is a concentration of species in the Nguru mountains of Tanzania. 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. African Violets are native to eastern tropical Africa. Plants can be classified as one of several sizes based on its above-ground diameter. This is thought to be because rapid leaf cooling causes cell vacuole collapse in the palisade mesophyll cells. Corrections? 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. Growing multiple African violets in a large container mimics their native habitat – a rainforest floor of porous, loose, fertile soil. The District Commissioner of Tanga, Baron W. Saint Paul Illaire, sent specimens onto Germany where they were formally described in his honor as Saintpaulia. African violet, (genus Saintpaulia), any of the six species of flowering plants in the genus Saintpaulia (family Gesneriaceae). One solution would be growing some of the Saintpaulia (African violet) species, many of which will actually prefer your cool windowsill–it will remind them of their native habitat high in the mountains of East Africa. Retrouvez African Violets: In Search of the Wild Violets et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. [5] In 2009, 9 species, 8 subspecies, and 2 varieties were recognized. It is more compact and diminutive than V. glabella, but with similar yellow flowers. They are commonly used as indoor houseplants, but can also be kept as outdoor plants in certain climates. Species and cultivars are commonly called African violets (although they are not closely related to true violets) or saintpaulias. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. In their native habitat, in the Usambara Mountains of East Africa, the relative humidity is generally about 70 to 80 percent. The African Violet Society of America is the International Cultivar Registration Authority for the section and its cultivars. Some Viola species are perennial plants, some are annual plants, and a few are small shrubs. By the early 1900s, they were introduced to the rest of the world for cultivation. 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. 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 . Such violets are endemic to the Usambara Mountains, which are part of the Eastern Arc Mountain Range, a nonglaciated area with consistent climate. vol. Updates? Plants grow in different regions and habitats. HORT. This biodiversity hotspot is renowned for its high number of endemic species. 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. Modeling Inflorescence Development of the African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl.). A wider range of species is now being looked at as sources of genes to introduce into modern cultivars. Most of the African violet sites are located in Tanzania. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. Two sites should be classed as high-priority for conservation–the Ulugura and Nguru Mountains, based upon DNA analyses of the genus Saintpaulia . 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. They grow into cascading vines in their native habitat and are known for their soft fuzzy foliage. [7], All the species previously placed in the genus Saintpaulia are now placed in Streptocarpus section Saintpaulia. The number of varieties of this plant is found to be 40000. Growing African violets from seed is rare and most commercially available plants are produced from cuttings and tissue culture. 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. And one of the most common complaints about them is they never bloom once you get them home from the nursery. As the name implies, African violets are native to the cloud forests in the mountains of east Africa. S. kewensis). They produce delicate blue-violet and white flowers under optimal conditions. Saintpaulias, which grow from 6–15 cm tall, can be anywhere from 6–30 cm wide. 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 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. SOC. As with relatively warm temperatures, humidity is vital to the health of African Violets. [14], The African violet is a day-neutral plant regarding flower development. [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. These dark green leaves have long petioles (leaf stems) and are arranged in a basal cluster at the base of the plant. 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. 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. Achetez neuf ou d'occasion 3. 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. The genus was named for Saint Paul-Illaire and his father. The native habitat of African Violets is the equatorial cloud forests of Tanzania and Kenya. African violets are native to Tanzania, where they were discovered in the late 1800s. In Colorado False African violets can be used as a potted plant or in a hanging basket. 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