Gloxinia (genus)
Encyclopedia
Gloxinia is a genus
of three species of tropical rhizomatous herb
s in the flowering plant
family Gesneriaceae
. The species are primarily found in the Andes
of South America
but Gloxinia perennis is also found in Central America
and the West Indies, where it has probably escaped from cultivation.
Gloxinia perennis is the original (type) species of the genus and for much of its history the genus consisted of only G. perennis and a very small number of other species. However, most recent references on Gloxinia reflect the 1976 classification of Hans Wiehler
, who took a broad view of the genus. A recent analysis of Gloxinia and related genera based on molecular and morphological work has determined that Wiehler's circumscription of the genus was unnatural, both phylogenetically and morphologically. The analyses demonstrated that the genera Anodiscus and Koellikeria, each with a single species, were more closely related to Gloxinia perennis than were any of the other species included in Gloxinia by Wiehler, several of which proved to be more closely related to other genera (particularly Diastema
, Monopyle
, and Phinaea
). As a result of this work, most of the species have been transferred to other genera while Koellikeria erinoides and Anodiscus xanthophyllus have been transferred into a much more narrowly defined Gloxinia consisting of only three species, all of them characterized by having a raceme
-like flowering stem. The other species have been transferred to the existing genus Monopyle
, the resurrected genera Mandirola and Seemannia
, and the new genera Gloxinella, Gloxiniopsis, Nomopyle, and Sphaerorrhiza. Gloxinia perennis forms fertile hybrids with species of Seemannia, which was the primary reason for uniting the two genera.
Sinningia speciosa
, a popular houseplant, was originally described and introduced to cultivation as Gloxinia speciosa and is still commonly known as "gloxinia".
Species
Excluded species
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of three species of tropical rhizomatous herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
s in the flowering plant
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
family Gesneriaceae
Gesneriaceae
Gesneriaceae is a family of flowering plants consisting of ca. 150 genera and ca. 3,200 species in the Old World and New World tropics and subtropics, with a very small number extending to temperate areas. Many species have colorful and showy flowers and are cultivated as ornamental plants.Most...
. The species are primarily found in the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
but Gloxinia perennis is also found in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and the West Indies, where it has probably escaped from cultivation.
Gloxinia perennis is the original (type) species of the genus and for much of its history the genus consisted of only G. perennis and a very small number of other species. However, most recent references on Gloxinia reflect the 1976 classification of Hans Wiehler
Hans Wiehler
Hans Joachim Wiehler was a German botanist who specialized in the plant family Gesneriaceae. In 1954 he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana and a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Goshen Biblical Seminary in 1956. He married in 1958 and remained in the United...
, who took a broad view of the genus. A recent analysis of Gloxinia and related genera based on molecular and morphological work has determined that Wiehler's circumscription of the genus was unnatural, both phylogenetically and morphologically. The analyses demonstrated that the genera Anodiscus and Koellikeria, each with a single species, were more closely related to Gloxinia perennis than were any of the other species included in Gloxinia by Wiehler, several of which proved to be more closely related to other genera (particularly Diastema
Diastema
Diastema may refer to:*Diastema , from the family Gesneriaceae*Diastema , a gap between the front teeth...
, Monopyle
Monopyle
Monopyle is a genus of plant in family Gesneriaceae. It contains the following species :* Monopyle ecuadorensis, C.V.Morton* Monopyle paniculata, Benth.* Monopyle sodiroana, Fritsch...
, and Phinaea
Phinaea
Phinaea is a genus of plant in family Gesneriaceae. It contains the following species :* Phinaea albolineata* Phinaea divaricata * Phinaea multiflora-External links:*...
). As a result of this work, most of the species have been transferred to other genera while Koellikeria erinoides and Anodiscus xanthophyllus have been transferred into a much more narrowly defined Gloxinia consisting of only three species, all of them characterized by having a raceme
Raceme
A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis. In botany, axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers. In a raceme, the oldest flowers are borne...
-like flowering stem. The other species have been transferred to the existing genus Monopyle
Monopyle
Monopyle is a genus of plant in family Gesneriaceae. It contains the following species :* Monopyle ecuadorensis, C.V.Morton* Monopyle paniculata, Benth.* Monopyle sodiroana, Fritsch...
, the resurrected genera Mandirola and Seemannia
Seemannia
Seemannia is a New World genus in the flowering plant family Gesneriaceae. There are four species in the genus, primarily found in the Andean regions of South America. The name honors the German botanist Berthold Carl Seemann.-Taxonomic history:...
, and the new genera Gloxinella, Gloxiniopsis, Nomopyle, and Sphaerorrhiza. Gloxinia perennis forms fertile hybrids with species of Seemannia, which was the primary reason for uniting the two genera.
Sinningia speciosa
Sinningia speciosa
Sinningia speciosa, commonly known in the horticultural trade as Gloxinia, is a tuberous member of the flowering plant family Gesneriaceae. The common name has persisted since its original introduction to cultivation from Brazil in 1817 as Gloxinia speciosa...
, a popular houseplant, was originally described and introduced to cultivation as Gloxinia speciosa and is still commonly known as "gloxinia".
Species
- Gloxinia perennis has a wide range in Central and South America. The plant is an herb with large nodding, purple, mint-scented flowers. It is sometimes known as "Canterbury Bells" (not to be confused with members of the genus CampanulaCampanulaCampanula is one of several genera in the family Campanulaceae with the common name bellflower. It takes its name from their bell-shaped flowers—campanula is Latin for "little bell"....
, which go by the same name). It is cultivated in tropical regions and its original range is unknown.
- Gloxinia erinoides (syn. Koellikeria erinoides) occurs from Costa Rica to Bolivia. The plant is a small herb with tiny white and maroon flowers. This diminutive plant is notable for having tiny but distinctly coconut-scented flowers and is occasionally cultivated as a houseplant.
- Gloxinia xanthophylla (syn. Anodiscus xanthophyllus) occurs in Ecuador and Peru. The plant is a shrubby herb with small white flowers and is rarely encountered in cultivation. Unlike the other two species it lacks scaly rhizomes.
Excluded species
- Gloxinia burchellii = Sphaerorrhiza burchellii
- Gloxinia dodsonii = Nomopyle dodsonii
- Gloxinia gymnostoma = Seemannia gymnostoma
- Gloxinia ichthyostoma = Mandirola ichthyostoma
- Gloxinia lindeniana = Gloxinella lindeniana
- Gloxinia nematanthodes = Seemannia nematanthodes
- Gloxinia planalta = Mandirola multiflora
- Gloxinia purpurascens = Seemannia purpurascens
- Gloxinia racemosa = Gloxiniopsis racemosa
- Gloxinia reflexa = Monopyle reflexa
- Gloxinia rupestris = Mandirola rupestris
- Gloxinia sarmentiana = Sphaerorrhiza sarmentiana
- Gloxinia speciosa = Sinningia speciosaSinningia speciosaSinningia speciosa, commonly known in the horticultural trade as Gloxinia, is a tuberous member of the flowering plant family Gesneriaceae. The common name has persisted since its original introduction to cultivation from Brazil in 1817 as Gloxinia speciosa...
- Gloxinia sylvatica = Seemannia sylvatica