Sarmienta
Sarmienta scandens, the Chilean pitcher flower, is a species of flowering plant, and the sole member of its genus within the family Gesneriaceae. It is native to the cool South Chilean rainforest, where it grows as an epiphyte.
| Sarmienta | |
|---|---|
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| Sarmienta scandens | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Gesneriaceae |
| Genus: | Sarmienta Ruiz & Pav. |
| Species: | S. scandens |
| Binomial name | |
| Sarmienta scandens (J.D. Brandis ex Molina) Pers. | |
The Latin specific epithet scandens means “climbing”.[1]
Description
Reaching just 10 cm (3.9 in) tall by 50 cm (20 in) broad, it is a creeping evergreen perennial with small oval leaves and pendent scarlet pitcher-shaped flowers in summer.[2]
Cultivation
In temperate regions it is usually grown under glass, either epiphytically or using a specialist potting medium containing leaf mould or sphagnum moss. It may be placed outside during the summer months, in a warm sheltered spot where the temperature does not fall below 5 °C (41 °F).[3] It may however survive brief periods down to 0 °C (32 °F).[2]
The plant is still widely advertised as Sarmienta repens, a name which is now regarded as illegitimate.[4]
Sarmienta scandens has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[3][5]
References
- Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 978-1845337315.
- Brickell, Christopher, ed. (2008). The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 957. ISBN 9781405332965.
- "RHS Plantfinder - Sarmienta scandens". Retrieved 31 October 2018.
- "The Gesneriad Web: Sarmienta repens". The Gesneriad Society. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
- "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 95. Retrieved 31 October 2018.