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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Saintpaulia''
| image = Purple_African_Violet_Top.JPG
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = a ''Saintpaulia ionantha'' cultivar
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Gesneriaceae]]
| genus = '''''Saintpaulia''''' [[Johann Christoph Wendland|J.C.Wendl.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
''[[Saintpaulia brevipilosa]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia confusa]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia difficilis]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia diplotricha]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia goetzeana]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia grandifolia]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia grotei]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia inconspicua]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia intermedia]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia ionantha]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia magungensis]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia nitida]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia orbicularis]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia pendula]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia pusilla]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia rupicola]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia shumensis]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia teitensis]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia tongwensis]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia velutina]]''
}}
'''''Saintpaulia''''' is a genus of 20 species of [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant|perennial]] [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Gesneriaceae]], native to [[Tanzania]] and adjacent southeastern [[Kenya]] in eastern tropical [[Africa]], with a concentration of species in the [[Nguru mountains]] of Tanzania. The genus is most closely related to ''[[Streptocarpus]]'', with recent phylogenetic studies suggesting it has evolved directly from subgenus ''Streptocarpella''. Common names include '''Saintpaulia''', '''African-violet''' or '''African Violet''', the latter somewhat confusing name given due to its superficial resemblance to true [[Violet (plant)|violet]]s (''Viola'', family [[Violaceae]]).
The genus is named after [[Baron Walter von Saint Paul Illaire]], the district commissioner of [[Tanga Province|Tanga]] province who discovered the plant in [[Tanganyika]] (now [[Tanzania]]) in [[Africa]] in [[1892]] and sent seeds back to his father, an amateur botanist in [[Germany]]. Two British plant enthusiasts, Sir John Kirk and Reverend W.E. Taylor, had earlier collected and submitted specimens to [[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] in [[1884]] and [[1887]] respectively, but the quality of specimens was insufficient to permit scientific description at that time. The genus ''Saintpaulia'', and original species ''S. ionantha'', were officially described by [[Johann Christoph Wendland|J.C. Wendland]] in 1893.
Saintpaulias grow from 6-15 cm tall and can be anywhere from 6-30 cm wide. The [[leaf|leaves]] are rounded to oval, 2.5-8.5 cm long with a 2-10 cm petiole, finely hairy, and with a fleshy texture. The [[flower]]s are 2-3 cm diameter, with a five-lobed velvety corolla ("petals"), and grow in clusters of 3-10 or more on slender stalks (peduncles). Flower colour in the wild species varies between [[Violet (color)|violet]], [[purple]], pale [[blue]] and [[white]].
Several of the species are [[endangered species|endangered]], and many more are threatened, due to clearance of their native [[cloud forest]] habitat for [[agriculture]].
===Cultivation===
[[Image:Pink_African_Violet.jpg|thumb|left|A pink, double-flowered cultivar]]
Saintpaulias are widely cultivated as [[house plant]]s. 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 [[cultivar]]s derived from ''Saintpaulia ionantha'' (syn. ''S. kewensis''). A wider range of species is now being looked at as sources of genes to introduce into modern cultivars.
Over 2,000 cultivars have been selected for [[horticulture|horticultural]] use. There are many different leaf and flower types found; cultivars are classified as Large, Standard, Trailing, Semi-mini, Mini, and Micro with Micro being the smallest. They range in flower colour from white, pink, violet, yellow, and some even green, and the flowers may be either single (five petals) or double (more
than five, with some or all of the [[stamen]]s converted into extra petals). Flowers are not always a solid colour, but can also be found in the "fantasy" variety where the petals have strips of colours going down them. One interesting flower form found in the African Violet are known as a "wasp"; these flowers have the upper two flower petals independently fused forming a tube. There are also compound leaves on some, that are called "bustled".
Saintpaulias can be propagated by leaf [[Cutting (plant)|cutting]]s (essential for propagating named cultivars) or seed (from which new cultivars are selected). African violets prefer a constant temperature between 20-25°C with high humidity, and thrive best planted in well-drained [[humus]] or [[coir]] compost. Saintpaulias should be watered from underneath, and misting should be avoided, as water coming in contact with the leaves can cause damage.
Some popular cultivars include 'Amazen Grace', 'Blue Border', 'Claret Queen', 'Dupont Blue', 'Ding Dong Trail', 'Glacier', 'Little Jewel', 'Mini Marina', 'Pink Miracle', and 'Porcelain'.
==Plant diseases==
{{Main|List of African violet diseases}}
===External links===
*[http://www.avsa.org African Violet Society of America website]
*[http://avsc.ca African Violet Society of Canada website]
*[http://www.saintpauliasallskapet.se Swedish African Violet Society website]
*[http://www.saintpaulia.fi Finnish Saintpaulia Society website]
*[http://gesneriads.ca/saintart.htm Gesneriad Reference Web Saintpaulia article]
[[Category:Gesneriaceae]]
[[Category:Garden plants]]
[[Category:Flowers]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Saintpaulia''
| image = Purple_African_Violet_Top.JPG
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = a ''Saintpaulia ionantha'' cultivar
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Gesneriaceae]]
| genus = '''''Saintpaulia''''' [[Johann Christoph Wendland|J.C.Wendl.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
''[[Saintpaulia brevipilosa]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia confusa]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia difficilis]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia diplotricha]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia goetzeana]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia grandifolia]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia grotei]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia inconspicua]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia intermedia]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia ionantha]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia magungensis]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia nitida]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia orbicularis]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia pendula]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia pusilla]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia rupicola]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia shumensis]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia teitensis]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia tongwensis]]''<br/>
''[[Saintpaulia velutina]]''
}}
'''''Saintpaulia''''' is a genus of 20 species of [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant|perennial]] [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Gesneriaceae]], native to [[Tanzania]] and adjacent southeastern [[Kenya]] in eastern tropical [[Africa]], with a concentration of species in the [[Nguru mountains]] of Tanzania. The genus is most closely related to ''[[Streptocarpus]]'', with recent phylogenetic studies suggesting it has evolved directly from subgenus ''Streptocarpella''. Common names include '''Saintpaulia''', '''African-violet''' or '''African Violet''', the latter somewhat confusing name given due to its superficial resemblance to true [[Violet (plant)|violet]]s (''Viola'', family [[Violaceae]]).
The genus is named after [[Baron Walter von Saint Paul Illaire]], the district commissioner of [[Tanga Province|Tanga]] province who discovered the plant in [[Tanganyika]] (now [[Tanzania]]) in [[Africa]] in [[1892]] and sent seeds back to his father, an amateur botanist in [[Germany]]. Two British plant enthusiasts, Sir John Kirk and Reverend W.E. Taylor, had earlier collected and submitted specimens to [[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] in [[1884]] and [[1887]] respectively, but the quality of specimens was insufficient to permit scientific description at that time. The genus ''Saintpaulia'', and original species ''S. ionantha'', were officially described by [[Johann Christoph Wendland|J.C. Wendland]] in 1893.
Saintpaulias grow from 6-15 cm tall and can be anywhere from 6-30 cm wide. The [[leaf|leaves]] are rounded to oval, 2.5-8.5 cm long with a 2-10 cm petiole, finely hairy, and with a fleshy texture. The [[flower]]s are 2-3 cm diameter, with a five-lobed velvety corolla ("petals"), and grow in clusters of 3-10 or more on slender stalks (peduncles). Flower colour in the wild species varies between [[Violet (color)|violet]], [[purple]], pale [[blue]] and [[white]].
Several of the species are [[endangered species|endangered]], and many more are threatened, due to clearance of their native [[cloud forest]] habitat for [[agriculture]].
===Cultivation===
[[Image:Pink_African_Violet.jpg|thumb|left|A pink, double-flowered cultivar]]
Saintpaulias are widely cultivated as [[house plant]]s. 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 [[cultivar]]s derived from ''Saintpaulia ionantha'' (syn. ''S. kewensis''). A wider range of species is now being looked at as sources of genes to introduce into modern cultivars.
Over 2,000 cultivars have been selected for [[horticulture|horticultural]] use. There are many different leaf and flower types found; cultivars are classified as Large, Standard, Trailing, Semi-mini, Mini, and Micro with Micro being the smallest. They range in flower colour from white, pink, violet, yellow, and some even green, and the flowers may be either single (five petals) or double (more
than five, with some or all of the [[stamen]]s converted into extra petals). Flowers are not always a solid colour, but can also be found in the "fantasy" variety where the petals have strips of colours going down them. One interesting flower form found in the African Violet are known as a "wasp"; these flowers have the upper two flower petals independently fused forming a tube. There are also compound leaves on some, that are called "bustled".
Saintpaulias can be propagated by leaf [[Cutting (plant)|cutting]]s (essential for propagating named cultivars) or seed (from which new cultivars are selected). African violets prefer a constant temperature between 20-25°C with high humidity, and thrive best planted in well-drained [[humus]] or [[coir]] compost. Saintpaulias should be watered from underneath, and misting should be avoided, as water coming in contact with the leaves can cause damage.
Some popular cultivars include 'Amazen Grace', 'Blue Border', 'Claret Queen', 'Dupont Blue', 'Ding Dong Trail', 'Glacier', 'Little Jewel', 'Mini Marina', 'Pink Miracle', and 'Porcelain'.
==Plant diseases==
{{Main|List of African violet diseases}}
===External links===
*[http://www.avsa.org African Violet Society of America website]
*[http://avsc.ca African Violet Society of Canada website]
*[http://www.saintpauliasallskapet.se Swedish African Violet Society website]
*[http://www.saintpaulia.fi Finnish Saintpaulia Society website]
*[http://gesneriads.ca/saintart.htm Gesneriad Reference Web Saintpaulia article]
[[Category:Gesneriaceae]]
[[Category:Garden plants]]
[[Category:Flowers]]
