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{{SPlantbox

{{SPlantbox

|familia=Gesneriaceae

|familia=Gesneriaceae

|genus=Streptocarpus  

|genus=Streptocarpus

|common_name=Cape primrose

|common_name=Cape primrose

|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia

|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia

|lifespan=perennial, annual

|lifespan=perennial, annual

|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia

|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia

|Temp Metric=°F

|Temp Metric=°F

|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!

|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!

|image=Upload.png

|image=Streptocarpus.jpg

|image_width=240

|image_width=240

}}

}}

'''''Streptocarpus''''' is a [[genus]] of [[herbaceous]] [[flowering plants]] in the family [[Gesneriaceae]], closely related to the genus ''[[Saintpaulia]]''. One common name is '''Cape Primrose''', referring to the nativity of several species to [[South Africa]] and their superficial resemblance to the genus ''[[Primula]]''. The genus is native to parts of [[Africa]] and [[Madagascar]] (with a few odd species in [[Asia]] that probably do not belong in the genus).  The plants often grow on shaded rocky hillsides or cliffs.  About 155 species of ''Streptocarpus'' are currently recognized, the first described being ''S. rexii''. They are found growing on the ground, rock crevices, and almost anywhere the seed can germinate and grow. Some species such as ''S. dunnii'' are [[unifoliate]] with the plant producing no true leaves, only a single [[cotyledon]] that continues to grow throughout the life of the plant.  The unifoliate species are [[Hapaxanth|monocarpic]] and die after producing seeds. Other species are [[perennial plant|perennial]] and come into flower during different parts of the year.  Members of [[subgenus]] ''Streptocarpella'' are more typical [[caulescent]] herbs and are sometimes grown as bedding or hanging plants.  The genus is defined by having a spirally twisted fruit (hence the name "streptocarpus"), although this character is also found in some other [[Old World]] genera of Gesneriaceae.  Recent [[phylogenetic]] studies strongly suggest that although it does not have a twisted fruit the genus ''Saintpaulia'' has evolved from within subgenus ''Streptocarpella''.

| name = ''Streptocarpus''

 

| common_names =    <!--- if multiple, list all, if none, leave blank -->

The leaves of some perennial (and particularly unifoliate) Streptocarpus are unusual because as winter approaches they slowly die back to an [[abscission line]] midway down the leaf.  The tip of the leaf will gradually die back to this line. In most flowering plants an absiscion line forms at the base of the leaf.

 

| high = ?  <!--- 1m (3 ft) -->

A complete list of the species and their synonyms can be found at the Smithsonian Institution's World Checklist of Gesneriaceae.

[[File:Streptocarpus.fruit.jpg||thumb|100px|left|The twisted fruit.]]

| origin = ?  <!--- Mexico, S America, S Europe, garden, etc -->

| poisonous =    <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->

 

| lifespan = perennial

| exposure = ?  <!--- full sun, part-sun, semi-shade, shade, indoors, bright filtered (you may list more than 1) -->

 

| water = ?  <!--- frequent, regular, moderate, drought tolerant, let dry then soak -->

| hardiness =    <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 5°C (40°F), etc -->

| bloom =    <!--- seasons which the plant blooms, if it is grown for its flowers -->

| sunset_zones =    <!--- eg. 8, 9, 12-24, not available -->

| image = Streptocarpus.jpg

| image_width = 240px    <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->

| image_caption = Streptocarpus spp

| regnum = Plantae

| divisio = Magnoliophyta

| classis = Magnoliopsida

{{Inc|

{{Inc|

Streptocarpus (Greek compound, meaning twisted fruit). Gesneriaceae. Cape Primrose. Herbs, frequently villous or lanate, adapted to greenhouse culture; choice plants, grown for the showy bloom.

Streptocarpus (Greek compound, meaning twisted fruit). Gesneriaceae. Cape Primrose. Herbs, frequently villous or lanate, adapted to greenhouse culture; choice plants, grown for the showy bloom.

==Cultivation==

==Cultivation==

{{edit-cult}}<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->

Streptocarpus require bright indirect light and can be grown near a window or under fluorescent lighting. Streptocarpus are propagated by seeds, divisions, and leaf cuttings.  The tiny seeds are dust-like and should be sown on the surface of the growing medium; they require light to germinate. The leaves can be cut into sections or down the middle to remove the central vein and then planted horizontally in light potting soil containing vermiculite and perlite.  Members of subgenus ''Streptocarpella'' are easily propagated from stem cuttings.

 

 

===Propagation===

===Propagation===

 

===Pests and diseases===

===Pests and diseases===

 

==Species==

==Species==

*''[[Streptocarpus dunnii]]''

*''[[Streptocarpus dunnii]]''

*''[[Streptocarpus rexii]]''

*''[[Streptocarpus rexii]]''

The following species are either little known or have not found their way into general cult.: {{SCH}}

The following species are either little known or have not found their way into general cult.: {{SCH}}

*S. Armitagei, Baker & Moore, is closely allied to S. Dunnii, differing in having a corolla much less funnel-shaped and straighter, with less spreading lobes; originally described as solitary-lvd., but 4 lvs. are said to have developed in the cult. plant. S. Afr.{{SCH}}

*S. armitagei, Baker & Moore, is closely allied to S. Dunnii, differing in having a corolla much less funnel-shaped and straighter, with less spreading lobes; originally described as solitary-lvd., but 4 lvs. are said to have developed in the cult. plant. S. Afr.{{SCH}}

*S. Banksii, Lynch (S. Wendlandii x some hybrid), has 2 lvs. about 19x13 in. for the lower, the second somewhat smaller: fls. large, purple-blue. Garden hybrid. G.C. III. 56:192.{{SCH}}

*S. banksii, Lynch (S. Wendlandii x some hybrid), has 2 lvs. about 19x13 in. for the lower, the second somewhat smaller: fls. large, purple-blue. Garden hybrid.{{SCH}}

*S. biflorus, Pucci, is a name appearing in horticultural journals for some unknown plant, which is said to have several blue fls.{{SCH}}

*S. biflorus, Pucci, is a name appearing in horticultural journals for some unknown plant, which is said to have several blue fls.{{SCH}}

*S. bifloro-polyanthus, Duch., is a hybrid, the female parent of which is S. polyanthus, the male the above-mentioned S. biflorus: it is said to have 5 ovate-oblong, crenate, rugose lvs.; several scapes with 2-4 pale lilac fls. F.S. 23:2429.{{SCH}}

*S. bifloro-polyanthus, Duch., is a hybrid, the female parent of which is S. polyanthus, the male the above-mentioned S. biflorus: it is said to have 5 ovate-oblong, crenate, rugose lvs.; several scapes with 2-4 pale lilac fls. F.S. 23:2429.{{SCH}}

*S. Blythinii, Lynch (S. Wendlandii X S. cyaneus), has 2-5 lvs., the largest of which is 15x9 in. and another is 12 x 7 in., green beneath, in some cases reddish toward the tip, in others with the color here and there: scapes 9-10, each with 5-14 fls., about 14 in. high: fls. about 1 1/2 in. across, lavender or bluish purple; petals marked with dark purple stripes. Garden hybrid. G.C. III. 56:260.{{SCH}}

*S. blythinii, Lynch (S. Wendlandii X S. cyaneus), has 2-5 lvs., the largest of which is 15x9 in. and another is 12 x 7 in., green beneath, in some cases reddish toward the tip, in others with the color here and there: scapes 9-10, each with 5-14 fls., about 14 in. high: fls. about 1 1/2 in. across, lavender or bluish purple; petals marked with dark purple stripes. Garden hybrid. {{SCH}}

*S. cantabrigiensis, Lynch (S. cyaneus X S. Dunnii), has several lvs. which are 7-8 x 3 in.: scapes about 7 in. high, 2-12-fld., conspicuously hairy: calyx-segms. linear-lanceolate; corolla 2 in. long, about 1 3/8 in. across, tube funnel-shaped, lobes rounded, throat white with 7 deeply colored lines, limb deep rose. Garden hybrid. G.C. III.59:131.{{SCH}}

*S. cantabrigiensis, Lynch (S. cyaneus X S. Dunnii), has several lvs. which are 7-8 x 3 in.: scapes about 7 in. high, 2-12-fld., conspicuously hairy: calyx-segms. linear-lanceolate; corolla 2 in. long, about 1 3/8 in. across, tube funnel-shaped, lobes rounded, throat white with 7 deeply colored lines, limb deep rose. Garden hybrid. G.C. III.59:131.{{SCH}}

*S. Gaudinii, Hort., is offered in the trade.—S. Greenii, Hort. ex Wilson (S. Saundersii x S. Rexii), is dwarfer and more compact than the former parent, the scapes many-fld: fls. pale lilac-blue. Garden hybrid. G.C. II. 17:303. Said to be the first hybrid streptocarpus.{{SCH}}

*S. Gaudinii, Hort., is offered in the trade.—S. Greenii, Hort. ex Wilson (S. Saundersii x S. Rexii), is dwarfer and more compact than the former parent, the scapes many-fld: fls. pale lilac-blue. Garden hybrid. G.C. II. 17:303. Said to be the first hybrid streptocarpus.{{SCH}}

*S. Holstii, Engl., resembles S. caulescent; plant about 1 1/2 ft. high, producing a large number of sts., each bearing 6-8 dark violet-blue fls. 3/4-1 in. long, spotted with white on the midlobe of the lower lip. German E. Afr. (Section I.) B.M. 8150.{{SCH}}

*S. holstii, Engl., resembles S. caulescent; plant about 1 1/2 ft. high, producing a large number of sts., each bearing 6-8 dark violet-blue fls. 3/4-1 in. long, spotted with white on the midlobe of the lower lip. German E. Afr. (Section I.) B.M. 8150.{{SCH}}

*S. hybridus. Hort., is a name applied to garden hybrids in general.—S. Kirkii, Hook. f. Caulescent; st. 4-6 in. high, stout, erect, hairy: lvs. 1-2 in. long, broadly ovate, obtuse, crenate, finely pubescent on both surfaces, base rounded or cordate; petiole 1/3-1/2 in. long: scapes axillary, very slender, 3-4 in. high: fls. drooping, opposite; calyx-lobes lanceolate, pubescent; corolla 3/4 in. long, pale lilac, tube hairy, upcurved, broad and subcampanulate, mouth expanded, lobes short rounded, ciliate, Trop. E. Afr. B.M. 6782. (Section I.) Allied to S. caulescens.{{SCH}}

*S. hybridus. Hort., is a name applied to garden hybrids in general.—S. Kirkii, Hook. f. Caulescent; st. 4-6 in. high, stout, erect, hairy: lvs. 1-2 in. long, broadly ovate, obtuse, crenate, finely pubescent on both surfaces, base rounded or cordate; petiole 1/3-1/2 in. long: scapes axillary, very slender, 3-4 in. high: fls. drooping, opposite; calyx-lobes lanceolate, pubescent; corolla 3/4 in. long, pale lilac, tube hairy, upcurved, broad and subcampanulate, mouth expanded, lobes short rounded, ciliate, Trop. E. Afr. B.M. 6782. (Section I.) Allied to S. caulescens.{{SCH}}

*S. lichtensteinensis, Hort. (S. Wendlandii X S. Watsonii), has 2 lvs., 1 prostrate and the other smaller and erect: fls. numerous, lilac-blue. Garden hybrid.{{SCH}}

*S. lichtensteinensis, Hort. (S. Wendlandii X S. Watsonii), has 2 lvs., 1 prostrate and the other smaller and erect: fls. numerous, lilac-blue. Garden hybrid.{{SCH}}

*S. Mahonii, Hook. f. Acaulescent: lf. solitary, 1 ft. or more long, flat on the ground, sessile, ovate-oblong, crenulate, tip rounded, base cordate: scapes many, crowded, densely pilose: fls. long-pedicelled; calyx-segms. pubescent, linear, corolla violet, tube 2/3 in. long, pubescent, decurved, somewhat inflated above; lobes rotundate. Brit. Cent. Afr. B.M. 7857.{{SCH}}

*S. mahonii, Hook. f. Acaulescent: lf. solitary, 1 ft. or more long, flat on the ground, sessile, ovate-oblong, crenulate, tip rounded, base cordate: scapes many, crowded, densely pilose: fls. long-pedicelled; calyx-segms. pubescent, linear, corolla violet, tube 2/3 in. long, pubescent, decurved, somewhat inflated above; lobes rotundate. Brit. Cent. Afr. B.M. 7857.{{SCH}}

*S. multiflora, Laing., is a seedling of S. Rexii, with up to 30 large bluish purple fls., which have darker purple lines in the throat and running up onto the lower lip. Garden hybrid. G.C. III. 18:211; 32:327. I.H. 43. p. 67.{{SCH}}

*S. multiflora, Laing., is a seedling of S. Rexii, with up to 30 large bluish purple fls., which have darker purple lines in the throat and running up onto the lower lip. Garden hybrid. G.C. III. 18:211; 32:327. I.H. 43. p. 67.{{SCH}}

*S. orientalis, Craib. Caulescent; st. solitary, erect, simple, 6-16 in. high, leafy: lvs. ovate to elliptic-ovate, apex obtuse, base cuneate, crenate or crenate-serrate, 1 – 3 1/2 x 3/4 – 2 3/4 in., both surfaces glandular-pilose; petioles up to 2 in. long: infl. axillary, cymose: calyx-lobes lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, white-glandular-hairy outside; corolla purple outside, paler within, tube over 1 in. long, limb about 3/4 in. across, lobes reflexed-spreading, wide oblong, tip rounded. Siam. {{SCH}}

*S. orientalis, Craib. Caulescent; st. solitary, erect, simple, 6-16 in. high, leafy: lvs. ovate to elliptic-ovate, apex obtuse, base cuneate, crenate or crenate-serrate, 1 – 3 1/2 x 3/4 – 2 3/4 in., both surfaces glandular-pilose; petioles up to 2 in. long: infl. axillary, cymose: calyx-lobes lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, white-glandular-hairy outside; corolla purple outside, paler within, tube over 1 in. long, limb about 3/4 in. across, lobes reflexed-spreading, wide oblong, tip rounded. Siam. {{SCH}}

*S. Veitchii, Hort, is offered in the trade.{{SCH}}

*S. veitchii, Hort, is offered in the trade.{{SCH}}

==Gallery==

==Gallery==

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<gallery>

Image:Upload.png| photo 1

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==References==

==References==

<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->

<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->

<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->

<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->

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