Gesneriaceae

African-Violet Family

By: George Rogers

A worldwide, mostly tropical family with > 130 genera and > 2500 species. Usually herbaceous or subshrubby, often slightly succulent, usually fuzzy plants with usually opposite leaves.  Sepals 5. Petals forming a tube, often but not necessarily bilaterally symmetrical.  Stamens 4(5) attached on the petals, often in 2 pairs. Carpels 2, usually with 1 chamber with ovules attached to the walls.  Fruits usually capsules. (Family data mostly from SMI). This the family of African Violets, Gloxinias (true Gloxinia and the large-flowered Sinningia speciosa often called "Gloxinia"), and Chrysothemis.

Plants listed in the manual include:

Chrysothemis pulchella

Seemannia sylvatica