Gloxinia perennis

Gloxinia perennis
Flowers of Gloxinia perennis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Gesneriaceae
Genus: Gloxinia
Species: G. perennis
Binomial name
Gloxinia perennis
(L.) Fritsch, 1894
Synonyms
  • Escheria gloxiniaeflora Regel
  • Eucolum crassifolium Salisb.
  • Gloxinia bicolor Poepp. ex Hanst.
  • Gloxinia heterophylla Poepp.
  • Gloxinia maculata L'Hér.
  • Gloxinia pallidiflora Hook.
  • Gloxinia suaveolens Decne.
  • Gloxinia trichantha Miq.
  • Gloxinia trichotoma Moench
  • Martynia perennis L.
  • Salisia gloxiniiflora Regel
  • Salisia maculata (L'Hér.) Regel
  • Salisia pallidiflora (Hook.) Regel
  • Salisia suaveolens (Decne.) Regel

Gloxinia perennis is a species of tropical rhizomatous herbaceous flowering plant belonging to the family Gesneriaceae. It is sometimes known as "Canterbury bells" (not to be confused with members of the genus Campanula, which go by the same name).

Etymology

The genus name commemorate Benjamin Peter Gloxin (1765-1795), a German physician and botanical writer. The Latin species name «perennis», meaning «perennial», was meant to distinguish it from the annual Martynia annua, as it was first placed in the genus Martynia.

Description

Gloxinia perennis has a raceme-like flowering stem. The flowers are showy, bell-shaped, nodding, pale purple or violet-lavender, mint-scented, about 4 cm long. The stem is erect, glabrous and reaches a height of about 60–120 cm. The leaves are opposite, glabrous and veined. The flowering period extended from mid Summer until early Fall. Fruits are ovoid to elliptical capsules, containing numerous minute seeds. This plant has scaly underground rhizomes.

Distribution

This species has a wide range in Central and South America, from Costa Rica up to Colombia, Brazil and Peru. It is primarily found in the Andes of South America, while it has probably escaped from cultivation in Central America and the West Indies. Its original range is unknown.

Habitat

Gloxinia perennis prefers shady and humid places and grows in forests, on rocks and river banks.

References

External links


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, May 08, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.