Африкалық Венера гүлдерінің түрі мен ерекшеліктері

Section of a genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae

Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia is a section within Streptocarpus subgenus Streptocarpella consisting of about ten species of herbaceous perennial flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae, native to Tanzania and adjacent southeastern Kenya in eastern tropical Africa. The section was previously treated as a separate genus, Saintpaulia, but molecular phylogenetic studies showed that it was nested within the genus Streptocarpus. Species and cultivars are commonly called African violets (although they are not closely related to true violets) or saintpaulias. They are commonly sold as house plants. Several of the species and subspecies of the section are endangered, and many more are threatened, as their native cloud forest habitats are cleared for agriculture. The conservation status of Streptocarpus ionanthus has been classed as near threatened.

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

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

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.

Saintpaulias are highly sensitive to temperature changes, especially rapid leaf cooling. Spilling cold water on African violet leaves causes discoloration. This is thought to be because rapid leaf cooling causes cell vacuole collapse in the palisade mesophyll cells.

African violets are commonly propagated asexually. Plants can be divided into smaller daughter plants or even grown from leaf cuttings. Growing African violets from seed is rare, and most commercially available plants are produced from cuttings and tissue culture.

African violets have become a traditional gift in the developed world. They are often offered for sale at holidays. They are a popular house plant in many countries, as they can flower during most of the year and are fairly durable to neglect.