Streptocarpus goetzeanus, synonym Saintpaulia goetzeana, is a species of Streptocarpus in the section Saintpaulia, commonly known as an African violet. It is a small, flowering plant that is used widely in home horticulture. S. goetzeana was first collected in 1898 by W. Goetze, and it was later described as a species by Engler in 1900.[2]
| Streptocarpus goetzeanus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Gesneriaceae |
| Genus: | Streptocarpus |
| Section: | S. sect. Saintpaulia |
| Species: | S. goetzeanus
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| Binomial name | |
| Streptocarpus goetzeanus | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Characteristics edit
Streptocarpus goetzeanus has stems of about 40 cm in length with leaves of 1.6-3.8 cm long and 1.4-3.6 cm wide.[3] The flower is unique to the species. It has five petals, where the top two are violet and the bottom three are white.[2]
Distribution edit
Members of Streptocarpus section Saintpaulia are native to eastern tropical Africa. There is a concentration of species in the Nguru Mountains of Tanzania. This particular species is only found at the higher elevations of 1300–2000 meters.[2]
Cultivation edit
Streptocarpus goetzeanus is very hard to cultivate due to the narrow conditions it needs to grow, such as mossy rock surfaces in deep shade.[2] These conditions are hard to reproduce, making cultivation difficult.
References edit
- ^ a b "Streptocarpus goetzeanus (Engl.) Christenh.", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2020-03-12
- ^ a b c d Smith, Jeff. "Saintpaulia: Taxonomy, Ecology and Distribution". Gesneriad Reference Web. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ "Entry for Saintpaulia goetzeana Engl. [family GESNERIACEAE]". JSTOR Global Plants. Retrieved 30 December 2013.