Gesneriaceae

From Freepedia

? Gesneriaceae
Image:Haberlea rhodopensis0.jpg Haberlea rhodopensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Gesneriaceae Dumortier
Genera
See text

Gesneriaceae is a family of flowering plant consisting of c. 146 genera and c. 2400 species, mostly in the Old World tropics but also many in the New World tropics as well, with a few extending to temperate areas. Most species are herbs or subshrubs, and a few are trees.

The most familiar members of the family to gardeners are the African Violets in the genus Saintpaulia. Other genera in the family have become popular as houseplants.

Selected genera

Achimenes (Cupid's Bower) Aeschynanthus Agalmyla Alloplectus Alsobia Ancylostemon Asteranthera Besleria Boea Briggsia Bucinellina Capanea Chirita Chrysothemis Codonanthe Columnea (Flying Goldfish Plant) Conandron Corallodiscus Cyrtandra Diastema Drymonia Episcia (Flame Violet) Eucodonia Gesneria Gloxinia Haberlea Isometrum

Jankaea Koellikeria Kohleria Loxostigma Lysionotus Mitraria Monopyle Nautilocalyx Nematanthus (Goldfish Plant) Neomortonia Niphaea Opithandra Oreocharis Paliavana Paraboea Pentadenia Petrocosmea Phinaea Ramonda Saintpaulia (African Violet) Sinningia Smithiantha (Temple Bells) Stauranthera Streptocarpus (Cape Primrose) Titanotrichum Trichantha

Gesneriads are divided culturally into three groups depending on their root structure: fibrous, rhizomatous and tuberous.