Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia

Saintpaulias, which grow from 6-15 cm tall, can be anywhere from 6-30 cm wide. The leaves are rounded to oval, 2.5-8.5 cm long with a 2-10 cm petiole, finely hairy, and have a fleshy texture. The flowers are 2-3 cm in diameter, with a five-lobed velvety corolla ("petals"), and grow in clusters of 3-10 or more on slender stalks called peduncles. Wild species can have violet, purple, pale blue, or white flowers.[2]

The plants get their common name "African violet" from their superficial resemblance to true violets (Viola, family Violaceae).

This group of plants has lived in the biodiverse Eastern Arc Usambara Mountains in Tanga Province for millions of years. The name in the local Kisambaa language is Dughulushi. The Germans officially colonialized this area from about 1885, and shortly before this, Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire (1860–1940) was made district commissioner of Tanga province, Tanganyika (now Tanzania) in Africa. He used to enjoy walking in the rainforest and they reminded him of the violets back home. He called them Usambaraveilchen (Usambara violets). In 1892 he sent seeds back to his father, who gave them to an amateur botanist, Hermann Wendland, in Germany. Wendland scientifically described the genus Saintpaulia, and original species S. ionantha in 1893,[3] naming the genus for Saint Paul-Illaire and his father.[4] Two British plant enthusiasts, Sir John Kirk and the Reverend W.E. Taylor, had earlier collected and submitted specimens to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in 1884 and 1887 respectively, but the quality of specimens was insufficient to permit scientific description at that time.

Revisions of the genus by B.L. Burtt expanded the genus to approximately 20 species. Following studies which showed most of the species to be very poorly differentiated, both genetically and morphologically, the number of species was reduced to six in a 2006 treatment, with the majority of former species reduced to subspecies under S. ionantha.[5] In 2009, 9 species, 8 subspecies, and 2 varieties were recognized.[6]

A molecular phylogenetic study in 2015 confirmed previous studies showing that species placed in Saintpaulia were deeply embedded within the genus Streptocarpus,[7] supporting the transfer of all Saintpaulia species to Streptocarpus in 2012.[8] Former Saintpaulia species did form a monophyletic group, and were placed in section Saintpaulia of Streptocarpus subgenus Streptocarpella.[7]

Saintpaulias are native to eastern tropical Africa. There is a concentration of species in the Nguru mountains of Tanzania.

Cultivar 'Pink Amiss'

Cultivar 'Red Velvet'

Saintpaulias are widely cultivated as house plants. Until recently, only a few of the ten or so species that exist have been used in breeding programs for the hybrids available in the market; most of the cultivars available as house plants are derived from Streptocarpus ionanthus (syn. S. kewensis). A wider range of species is now being looked at as sources of genes to introduce into modern cultivars.

The African Violet Society of America is the International Cultivar Registration Authority for the section and its cultivars.

African violets have become a traditional gift in the developed world. They are often offered for sale at holidays.[14]

They are a popular house plant in many countries, as they can flower during most of the year and are fairly durable to neglect.[17][18]

• Media related to Saintpaulia at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia at Wikispecies
• African Violet Society of America website
• African Violet Society of Canada website
• Gesneriad Reference Web Saintpaulia article
• Baby Violets - African Violet Houseplants