The homeland and origin of the violet houseplant

The common name for this flower is "indoor violet." In botanical reference books, it is known as Saintpaulia, and it is not a member of the Violet family. The origins of this popular houseplant, why it is called a violet, and its native land are unknown to even the most experienced gardeners.

General characteristics of the plant

Saintpaulia, or African violet, is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Gesneriad family. It is a low-growing evergreen perennial.

Saintpaulia is characterized by a low stem with a lush rosette of leaves at the base. The leaf blades are leathery and pubescent. They are heart-shaped. The leaf shape is often uneven. The tip of the blade can be pointed or round.

The leaves can be rich shades of green or a combination of two colors. The color of the leaf blades differentiates the sexes of violets. Males have a clear leaf base, while females have a lighter spot.

The plant's ornamental value lies in its flowers. The flower head consists of five petals and two stamens. It sits on a five-petaled calyx. The flowers are collected in racemes. Depending on the species, they can be single or double, with asymmetrical petals and varied edges. The petals can be a single color or a combination of several colors. The shades of color are varied. Flower diameter ranges from 2 to 4 cm.

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Homeland, history and description of violet species

The flower's native land is East Africa, specifically its mountainous regions. Most species are found in Tanzania. Violets are especially abundant in the Usambara Mountains. Some species are found in Kenya, which is also part of East Africa.

The flower was discovered in the 19th century by the German Baron Saint-Paul. The discovery took place in the Usambara region, which was considered a German colony at the time. Today, this territory is part of Tanzania.

During a walk, the baron noticed an unknown, beautifully flowering plant. The discoverer's father was a renowned dendrologist. He, in turn, passed on the seeds he received from his son to the botanist Wendland. In 1893, the botanist described the plant grown from African seeds. He named the flower Saintpaulia Violatifolia.

The first word is derived from the surname of its discoverer, Baron Saint-Paul. The second word in the flower's name refers to its striking resemblance to members of the genus Violaceae of the Violaceae family. The plant was classified as a separate genus of lamiaceae and placed in the Gesneriaceae family.

That same year, the plant was presented at the international flower exhibition in Ghent. The rights to cultivate it on an industrial scale were immediately purchased by the renowned German company Benary.

Thirty years later, Saintpaulias conquered the United States as houseplants. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, more than 100 varieties of this plant were known. Today, that number exceeds 32,000.

Due to the vast number of hybrids, classifying Saintpaulias is very difficult. Most gardeners use the American classification system. This model is an organized classification system consisting of the following points:

1. Socket size.
2. Leaf type.
3. Color of leaves.
4. Flower type.
5. Color of petals.

Based on the size of the leaf rosette, the following types of Saintpaulias are distinguished:

Classification by leaf type is carried out according to the following parameters:

Based on leaf color, violets are divided into solid and variegated varieties. Leaf blade color can range from the following shades:

Classification by flower type involves determining the species based on the following parameters:

• flower shape;
• degree of terryness;
• features of the petal edge.

There are the following forms of Saintpaulia flowers:

1. Classic.
2. Anyutka (Pansies).
3. Classic star.
4. Round star.
5. Bell.

According to the degree of terryness, the following types are distinguished:

1. Wasp.
2. Simple.
3. Pectinate.
4. Semidouble.
5. Terry.

The edges of the petals of Saintpaulias are as follows:

1. Carnation.
2. Wavy.
3. Sinuate.
4. Fringed.
5. Two-color.

Flowers of this genus are most often differentiated by petal color. According to this classification, Saintpaulias are divided into the following species:

The color range of the coat has special designations:

• B – blue, light blue color;
• P – bright or dark shade of pink;
• O – pale shades of pink and lilac, orchid, lavender shade;
• R – red, red-brown, scarlet, plum, cherry shade;
• V – violet color, purple hue;
• W – white, cream, ivory;
• X – two-color, two-tone color;
• C – multicolor (more than two colors or shades);
• Y – white with yellow.

This classification system does not include trailing varieties. They are placed in a separate category. Trailing indoor violets are distinguished by long stems, which can reach half a meter. Unlike other Saintpaulia species, the stems of trailing varieties contain multiple growth points and tend to branch.

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There are only 3 types of this crop in nature:

• Saintpaulia Velvet;
• Saintpaulia Grote;
• Saintpaulia Violetflower (Violetflower).

All other multi-thousand hybrids are the result of selective breeding efforts.

Creating natural conditions during cultivation

In the wild, the flower grows in the highlands of Africa. To create conditions as close to natural as possible, follow these guidelines:

Violets can be affected by fusarium wilt, powdery mildew, rust, gray mold, and late blight. They are also a tasty morsel for pests, including spider mites, scale insects, aphids, thrips, nematodes, mealybugs, whiteflies, woodlice, flies, and midges.

Frequently asked questions about growing

The indoor violet is very popular among gardeners. The plant was discovered in East Africa, and thanks to the active work of breeders, today this plant boasts a wide variety of species, encompassing a vast palette of many color shades.

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