Saintpaulia (genus)

Japanese name: セントポーリア
Scientific name: Saintpaulia

[Overview]
A somewhat succulent perennial.
There is a rosette type, in which the leaves form a rosette, and a trailing type, in which the stems creep and the leaves are borne alternate or opposite.
The leaves are round to ovate, hairy, and have rounded teeth on the margin.
They have long petioles.
One to several flowers are borne in the leaf axils; the corolla is two-lipped with 5 lobes, and the two upper lobes are small.
The base of the corolla forms a short tube.
There are 2 stamens, with conspicuous yellow anthers.
The fruit is a capsule.

[History]
Breeding has centered on Saintpaulia ionantha and S. confusa, and more than 10,000 garden varieties have been created.
Garden varieties are classified by plant form and size (6 categories: miniature, semi-miniature, standard, large, miniature trailing, standard trailing), flower form (7 categories: single, semi-double, double, single/double, star, fringed/ruffled, bell), flower color (14 categories), leaf shape (10 categories) and so on, and are recorded with set symbols.
Some systems also set up micro-miniature (plant spread of 8 cm or less) as a classification below miniature.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by leaf cuttings or stem cuttings.
The optimum growth temperature is 18–25°C; growth stops below 10°C, and the plant dies at 5°C or below.
Growth is also poor at 30°C or above.
Plant it in soil that is well drained, retains water well and is rich in organic matter, and grow it indoors in a bright place throughout the year.
From autumn to spring, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; in midsummer keep it on the dry side, and in winter too, keep it on the dry side if the temperature falls below 10°C.
From autumn to spring, apply liquid fertilizer; in midsummer stop fertilizing, and in winter too, stop fertilizing if the temperature falls below 10°C.
Pick off spent flowers promptly.
Pests and diseases include gray mold, cyclamen mites and aphids.

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