Streptocarpus
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Streptocarpus is a genus of herbaceous plants in the flowering plant family Gesneriaceae, and closely related to the common Saintpaulia. The genus is native to parts of Africa, Madagascar and Asia in forested areas. About 130 species of Streptocarpus have been identified, the first described being S. rexii. They are found growing on the ground, rock crevices, and almost anywhere the seed can germinate and grow. Many streptocarpus species such as S. dunnii are unifoliate, the plant only producing one leaf, flowers to produce seeds, and dies once the seeds have ripened; this is also called monocarpic (directly means only produces fruit once). Other species are perennial and come into flower during different parts of the year.
- Selected species
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Cultivation
Recent hybrids are able to remain in bloom throughout the year, and also have been bred to overcome the unifoliate form. Over the past few years work has been done through hybridizing to bring other traits, such as red flowers to our modern hybrids that are available today. There are thousands of cultivars that are now grown as both houseplants and in the garden. The colors of the flowers range anywhere from red, white, yellow, blue, and everything in between including nearly black, except for a deep orange. Many flowers have markings in the "throat". Because the shape of the flower is close to that of an orchid, they can be mistaken.
Streptocarpus are propagated by seeds, divisions, and leaf cuttings. Seeds are readily produced on Streptocarpus and make an easy and fun way to multiply a collection. The leafs can be cut down the middle to remove the central vein and then planted horizontally in light potting soil containing vermiculite and perlite. Many plants can be produced in a short time with this method of propagation. Below is a list of steps that a newly planted leaf will go through to produce more plants.
- A few days after planting a leaf section it will seem limp and wilted. A little wilted is normal; it is is completely laying down it is going to need more moisture.
- A) Add moisture by placing the cutting in a sealed bag or other container.
- B) Make sure the potting medium is moist
- About 2 weeks/sometimes a little later roots will form at the sites where the veins are.
- About a week/or a bit more after it starts getting roots small plantlets will develope on the cut side of the leaf.
- Soon these small leaves will rise above the potting medium, and once they are about 3-5 cm (1.5-2 inches) tall they can carefully be separated from the mother leaf and potted on its own.
Streptocarpus can be easily grown near a window and also under flourescent lighting. The lenght of the leaves of the plant are directly related to two things, both the genetic background and the quality of light the plant recieves. If a plant is getting little light the Streptocarpus will grow wide and long leaves to make up for the lack of light. This is an adaptation the plant has acquired by growing in dense forests in Africa.
The ability of the Streptocarpus through short periods of drought is making this plant an good choice for houseplants. The leaves will appear limp and lay flat when the plant doesn't have enough water. Water is slowly absorbed into the meristems(the growing points) of the plant as a protection for a prolonged drought. Once the plant has available water, the plant will quickly regain its turgor pressure(water pressure in the plant) and will appear healthy again.
The leaves of Streptocarpus are unusual because they slowly die back with an absiscion layer. Starting at the tip of the leaf it will slowly die little by little until the leaf is completely dead. Having this absiscion layer at the tip of the leaf is unlike most plants when the absiscion layer is where the leaf attaches to the stem; Streptocarpus have both.
Streptocarpus flowers are born on short and long peduncles(flower stems) that attach to the leaf stem. Several peduncles may be produced per leaf. New flowers come with new leaf growth.
Streptocarpus form small clumps. As the plant grows it produces creeping stems that produce roots and will eventually separate to form other colonies. These creeping stems are called rhizomes.
Streptocarpus Societies
There are several societies and organizations that trade the leaves in hopes to multiply the cultivars through propagation and also share their knowledge to help other growers. These societies are both large and small, and many of them are internet based groups. The Streptocarpus is a fairly new introduction as a houseplant and because there is not a wide information base on these plants new terminology is increasing when speaking about Streptocarpus. One of these terms is Strep, which is a shortened version of Streptocarpus. Most of the communication done between society and club members refer to Streptocarpus only as Strep. There are also some old terms associated with roses that are now being adapted to Streptocarpus both Grandiflora and Multiflora. Grandiflora is refering to a cultivar that has a larger then normal flower. Multiflora refers to a cultivar that has several more blooms then normal on a single peduncle.
Because many hybridizers are currently trying to come up with new cultivars there have been many exciting successes. One of these successes was finding a hybrid that was scented. Another was hybridizing a red unifoliate with a modern hybrid and gaining the red colored flowers that are now found on easy to raise cultivars.