Sinningia speciosa, sometimes known in the horticultural trade as gloxinia, is a tuberous member of the flowering plant native to Brazil within the family Gesneriaceae. Originally included in the genus Gloxinia in 1817, it was reclassified to Sinningia. Showy S. speciosa hybrids are still sometimes referred to simply as "gloxinia", although this name is now technically incorrect.[2]

Sinningia speciosa
A Sinningia speciosa cultivar
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Gesneriaceae
Genus: Sinningia
Species:
S. speciosa
Binomial name
Sinningia speciosa
Synonyms[1]
  • Gloxinia caulescens Lindl.
  • Gloxinia discolor Kunze
  • Gloxinia diversiflora May
  • Gloxinia fyfiana Lem.
  • Gloxinia immaculata Mart. ex Hanst.
  • Gloxinia maxima Paxton
  • Gloxinia menziesiana Young ex Otto & A.Dietr.
  • Gloxinia merkii E.Otto
  • Gloxinia passinghamii Paxton
  • Gloxinia rubra Paxton
  • Gloxinia speciosa Lodd.
  • Gloxinia teuchleri Lem.
  • Ligeria caulescens (Lindl.) Decne.
  • Ligeria menziesiana (Young ex Otto & Dietr.) Hanst.
  • Ligeria speciosa (Lodd.) Decne.
  • Sinningia menziesiana (Young ex Otto & Dietr.) G. Nicholson

The name florist's gloxinia is now sometimes used to distinguish it from the rhizomatous species now included in the genus Gloxinia. Another common name is Brazilian gloxinia.[3] The plants produce large, velvety, brightly colored flowers and are popular houseplants. Cultural requirements are similar to those of African violets except that S. speciosa generally requires more light and often has a dormant period, when the tuber should be kept cool and dry until it resprouts.

Cultivation

edit

Although generally grown indoors, it is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 10-12.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, retrieved 5 January 2017
  2. ^ "Sinningia speciosa – History in Horticulture | Gesneriad Reference Web". Retrieved 2020-10-10.
  3. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "​Sinningia speciosa​". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  4. ^ SFGate: How to Propagate Gloxinia