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A species from Macedonia, where it grows on north facing cliffs, often shaded by shrubs and trees. I have planted it out in the greenhouse where I am hoping it will appreciate the warmth, protection and freedon from the pot. Writing in 1951, W. Schacht says: "This last species (R. nathaliae) was collected by King Milan's Doctor in 1879 on Suva-Planina and he and Pancic named it together in honour of Natalie the Queen of Serbia at that time. The places where this beautiful plant was found are mainly in mid-Macedonia and also between Skoplje (Treska-schlucht) and Voden, as well as in East Serbia." The Gesneriad reference web says: "Ramonda nathaliae, also known as Natalie’s Ramonda, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Ramonda that grows in Serbia and Macedonia, mostly in the east of both countries. Whereas most flowers in Gesneriaceae are composed of five lobes to the corolla, the flower of R. nathaliae has two fused petals which give the overall appearance of four lobes (most of the time), somewhat distinctive among gesneriad flowers. The flower is considered a symbol of the Serbian Army’s struggle during World War I. The plant was scientifically described in 1884 from specimens growing around Niš, by Sava Petrović and Josif Pančić, who named it after Queen Natalija Obrenović." |
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| 3rd July 2013 | ||
