Nematanthus
Encyclopedia
Nematanthus is a genus of flowering plant
s of the family Gesneriaceae
. Compared to other gesneriads, Nematanthus has leaves
that are small, succulent
, and hard-surfaced. The plant has a trailing, branching, and spreading habit; it is generally an epiphyte
in nature and a hanging-basket plant in cultivation.
The flower
has petals fused into a pouch-like shape, with a small opening. The fancied resemblance of the flower to a goldfish
gives the plant its common name, "goldfish plant."
Hummingbirds often will feed from the nectar-filled "goldfish" flowers.
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...
s of the 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...
. Compared to other gesneriads, Nematanthus has leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
that are small, succulent
Succulent plant
Succulent plants, also known as succulents or fat plants, are water-retaining plants adapted to arid climates or soil conditions. Succulent plants store water in their leaves, stems, and also in roots...
, and hard-surfaced. The plant has a trailing, branching, and spreading habit; it is generally an epiphyte
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
in nature and a hanging-basket plant in cultivation.
The flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
has petals fused into a pouch-like shape, with a small opening. The fancied resemblance of the flower to a goldfish
Goldfish
The goldfish is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. It was one of the earliest fish to be domesticated, and is one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish....
gives the plant its common name, "goldfish plant."
Hummingbirds often will feed from the nectar-filled "goldfish" flowers.