African violet
The African violet (Saintpaulia) is of the Gesneriaceae family. A perennial plant with fine-haired, round leaves and velvety petals, African violets prefer a constant temperature with high humidity. They can be propagated by leaf cutting or seed. The flower is indirectly named after Baron Walter von Saint Paul Illaire, the district commissioner of Tanga province who discovered the plant in Tanganyika (now Tanzania) in Africa in 1892 and sent seeds back to his father, an amateur botanist, in Germany. Two British plant enthusiasts, Sir John Kirk and Reverend W.E. Taylor, had earlier collected and submitted specimens to Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 1884 and 1887 respectively, but the quality of specimens was insufficient to permit scientific description at that time. African violets come in many colors other than violet, and under proper conditions can be made to flower almost constantly year-round.
External links African Violets African Violet photo gallery
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