Species List -- NEW CLASSIFICATIONS

The new classifications are based on DNA studies done at KEW. When first collected, species were classified by appearance but the same plant will appear different under different conditions, leading the scientists of the time to name them as individuals. NOTE---do not toss your current name tags. This is much controversy surrounding the new classifications. Also, Finland is doing their own genetic studies.

Six Species

(now classified under grotei, a subspecies of ionantha) S. confusa (S 16) 1958 (B. Burtt) Single dark purple, 2-6 per peduncle. Variable floriferous-ness. Medium green, thin, quilted, leathery, flexible, serrated/near-white back. Often multi-crowned. May develop sideways growth habit. Semiminiature to Standard

(now classified under grotei, a subspecies of ionantha) S. difficilis (S 15) 1958 (B. Burtt) Single medium to dark blue, 5-7 per peduncle. Chartreuse, longifolia, tends to spoon, thin, deep veining, crinkled, rough, long hairs. Long, bent petiole. Usually single crown, may sucker. Standard

(subspecies of ionantha)

S. diplotricha-pale flowers

S. diplotricha #3085 -Uppsala - miniature to semi.

S. diplotricha (Usambara Mountains) Pale lilac with an almost pink undertone. Slightly olive color leaves. 7 blossoms per penduncle.

S. diplotricha parker (species) Rounded heart-shaped dark leaves. Pale lavender blossom.

S. diplotricha Punter #0 (S 12c) 1947 (B. Burtt) Single pale lilac/bright yellow stamens; seven per peduncle. Dark green, pointed, thick, serrated. Single crown, may sucker. Small standard

S. diplotricha Punter #6 (S 12a) 1947 (B. Burtt) Single pale lilac to light blue/bright yellow stamens; one per peduncle. Dark green, small, round, may spoon, lotus-type. Single crown, may sucker. Standard

S. diplotricha Punter #7 (S 12b) 1947 (B. Burtt) Single blue-gray to near white/bright yellow stamens. Dark olive green, plain, heart-shaped, pointed/light red back. Single crown, may sucker. Small standard

(now listed as #1 in the list of 6 species) S. goetzeana (S 10) 1900 (A. Engler) Single tiny pale lilac to near white/darker upper petals. Three or more per peduncle, rarely blooms. Dark green, small, round, thick, smooth edge/lighter back. Creeping, branched stems, multi-crowned. Miniature trailer. Culture - this plant requires cool temperatures, below 75 degrees F is required. Grows best below 65 degrees and may need temps in the 40's to set blooms.

(subspecies of ionantha)

S. grandifolia #237 (S 7) 1958 (B. Burtt) Single blue-violet, one or more per peduncle, floriferous. Light green, elliptical, very thin, long flexible petiole. Usually single crown. Large

S. grandifolia #299 (S 7a) 1958 (B. Burtt) Single dark blue-violet, one or more per peduncle, very floriferous. Light to medium green, elliptical, very thin, crinkled, long flexible petiole. Usually single crown. Large

(now classified under grotei, a subspecies of ionantha)

S. grotei (S 17) 1921 (A. Engler) Single, light-medium blue/variable darker eye, 2-3 per peduncle. Flowers may hide under foliage. Pale-dark green, variable texture, round, serrated on most clones. Usually near-white back, occasionally red. Green or brown flexible petiole, variable internode length. Large trailer

S. grotei amazon (Engler) Amazon version of S. grotei

(ionantha var. ionantha)

S. House of Amani (species) Single medium lavender-blue, 3-7 per peduncle, hides under leaves, short-lived. Dark green, pointed, quilted, smooth, prominent veins, serrated/occasional red back, petiole. Usually single crown. Never declared a true species. Standard

(now classified under pendula, a subspecies of ionantha)

S. intermedia (S 9) 1958 (B. Burtt) Single medium blue, 5-7 per peduncle, sparse. Olive green, small, round, tends to spoon, velvety, slightly serrated/purple-red back, prominent green veins. Single crown to trailing. Small standard or Trailer

(now listed as #2 in the list of 6 species) S. inconspicua (S 1) 1958 (B. Burtt) Single small blue-spotted white, atypical of other species, one or more per peduncle. Frail. Not known in collections. Miniature trailer

(now listed as #3 in the list of 6 species) S. ionantha (S 5) 1893 (H. Wendland) Single blue-violet, 4-5 per peduncle, very floriferous. Dark green, pointed, heart-shaped, tends to spoon, thick, quilted, glossy, slightly serrated, long red-brown petiole/red back. Large. Culture - grows at sea level, likes warm conditions.

(ionantha var. ionantha) S. white ionantha (species) Light green foliage. Blossoms are white with occasional pale lilac tinge to them.

S. magungensis var. magungensis (S 19) 1950 (E. Roberts) Single small dark violet-blue/darker eye, 2-4 per peduncle, very floriferous. Round, cupped-down, pebbled, slightly serrated, brown petiole/green-white back, prominent midrib. Semiminiature trailer

(now classified under grotei, a subspecies of ionantha) S. magungensis var. minima (S 19a) 1964 (B. Burtt) Single tiny light purple/darker eye, 1-2 per peduncle, rarely blooms. Medium, small, cupped-down, thin, hairy, serrated, red-brown petiole. Miniature trailer

(not on the new list) S. magungensis var. occidentalis (S 19b) 1964 (B. Burtt) Single medium violet-blue/darker eye, 2-5 per peduncle. Medium green, ovate, tends to fold and spoon, glossy. Bushy trailer

(subspecies of ionantha) S. nitida (S 13) 1958 (B. Burtt) Single dark blue-purple, 8-10 per peduncle, floriferous. Dark green, round, may spoon, smooth, glossy, slender brown petiole/red back. Open growth. Small or bushy trailer or multi-crowned standard

(not on the new list) S. nova – Nguru mountains (see Nguru Mountains Species Nova below).

(subspecies of ionantha) S. orbicularis (S 14) 1947 (B. Burtt) Single small light lilac to almost white/darker eye, 5-8 per peduncle, floriferous but drops easily. Bright green, small, round to heart-shaped, thin, glossy. Single or multi-crowned. Small standard to Standard

(subspecies of ionantha under orbicularis) S. orbicularis var. purpurea (S 14a) 1964 (B. Burtt) Single small dark purple, 5-8 per peduncle, very floriferous. Dark green, round to heart-shaped, thin, glossy/light back. Single or multiple crown. Standard

(a subspecies of ionantha) S. pendula (S 8) 1958 (B. Burtt) Single pale-medium blue, one per peduncle, difficult to bloom. Pale to yellow-green, textured, slightly elongated to ovate, very hairy, serrated, variable internode length/pale back. Trailer

(now classified under pendula, a subspecies of ionantha) S. pendula var. kizarae (S 8a) 1964 (B. Burtt) Single lavender, 2-4 per peduncle, floriferous. Light green, round, hairy, serrated. Trailer

(now listed as #4 in the list of 6 species) S. pusilla (S 2) 1900 (A. Engler) Single, tiny white/mauve top petals, one or more per peduncle. Leaves tiny, triangular/purple back. Not known in collections, but may exist in some mountain ranges in Tanzania. Miniature

(now classified under rupicola, a subspecies of ionantha) S. robertson (species) Large growing light green foliage. Medium to dark blue blossoms.

(now classified under rupicola, a subspecies of ionantha)

(a subspecies of ionantha) S. rupicola (S 10b) 1964 (B. Burtt) Single light-medium blue, three or more per peduncle. Light-medium green, heart-shaped, soft, smooth, glossy, velvety/light back. Leaves sometimes thick. Multi-crowned standard or Bushy trailer

(now listed as #5 in the list of 6 species) S. shumensis (S 3) 1955 (B. Burtt) Single pale blue to almost white/variable darker eye, usually four per peduncle, sparse bloom. Bright green, pebbled, glossy, slightly serrated, short petiole, leaf blade twisted in some clones. Single crown, but tends to sucker easily. Miniature to Semiminiature. Culture -- grows at high elevations, so cool night temps fine. Use northern exposure, however it is very tolerant.

(ionantha var. ionantha) S. Sigi Falls (species) Single variable blue-violet, 2-4 per peduncle, medium to difficult to bloom. Dull green, tends to look mottled, longifolia, may spoon, thick, tough, very hairy, varies in size/purple-red back. Multi-crowned. Never declared a true species. Large standard to Bushy trailer

(now listed as #6 in the list of 6 species) S. teitensis (S 4) 1958 (B. Burtt) Single light blue-violet; 1-2 per peduncle, rare blooms hide under leaves. Dark, slightly pointed, may spoon; thick, rough, brittle, glossy/red, sometimes light green back. Usually grows upright. Standard

(a subspecies of ionantha var. ionantha) S. tongwensis (S 6) 1947 (B. Burtt) Single pale blue, may show dark pinwheel marking when grown cool; 4-6 per peduncle, very floriferous. Dark green, pointed, narrow, very thick, hairy, slightly serrated/some red back. May appear variegated with mottled pattern over main veins. Usually upright single crown, rarely suckers. Standard

(now classified under velutina, a subspecies of ionantha)

S. velutina (S 11) 1958 (B. Burtt) Single small medium violet/darker eye, some white tips. Five per peduncle, floriferous. Black-green, round to heart-shaped, may cup up or down, thin, hairy, velvety, pronounced veining, serrated/red-purple back. Single crown, may sucker. Standard

S. velutina amazon (B. Burtt) Amazon version of S. velutina.

S. velutina lite (species) Miniature version of S. velutina.

New Species Clones as listed by CCV

S. brother paddy from the Mather Collection. Collected by Brother Paddy MacNamara. May grow unruly but if you choose a symmetrical plant it will grow nicely. Flowers are small, dark purple, and have a wasp-like shape.

S. difficillis #2 from the Mather Collection.

S. grotei protzen from the Uppsala Collection. Pale blue blossoms, large light green leaves. An excellent trailer.

S. magungensis occidentalis from the Mather Collection. Beautiful shiny foliage.

S. pale rupicola not as vigorous as rupicola but nice. Pale blue blossoms.

S. pendula Iverson from the Iverson collection.

S. rupicola Cha Simba another clone of rupicola. Very vigorous. Leaves are more pointed and top petals of flowers may overlap slightly. Culture -- shaded southern exposure, same as rupicola.

Nguru Mountains Species Nova (formerly named S. shumensis Nguru Mountains) Not yet unclassified, smaller than shumensis. Compact trailer, oval, dark green, red reverse, velvety, flowers small dark blue. This is not a clone of shumensis as formerly listed. This is the word directly from Dr. Jeff Smith. Collection notes: Collected by Christina
Grusell in February in 1993 in the Nguru Mountains near the village of Mhonda in the Morogoro District. The plant was found in the mountain rain forest near the great waterfall. S. confusa was also growing in this locality. The nova plant was growing in deep shade on the vertical sides of large boulders among the mosses. The plants were very small and hairy.

S. Mather #21 trailer from the Mather Collection, from the Usambaras Mountains, Tanzania. Similar to grotei but much darker leaves and blossoms, foliage more oval.