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A form of Sinningia bullata in Florianopolis (Southern Brazil) that was originally distributed as "Sinningia sp. ex Florianopolis". The Gesneriad Reference web says: "This species is remarkable for the thick white wool on the back of new leaves and on the tips of new shoots, as well as for its “bullate” (bumpy or pebbly) leaves and its beautifully contrasting red flowers. It has begun to be widely used in hybridization, and has even been crossed with micro-miniature species. It hails from southern Brazil, and was collected on the island of Florianopolis. Its typical habitat is rocky steep cliffs, where it will trail tubers on “stolons” down the slope." I find this selection quite tolerant of cold but the Gesneriad Reference web continues: "A second collection of the species has recently been made, further south in Brazil, and at higher altitude. This collection is named after the collection location, Fortaleza Canyon, hence S. bullata Cânion de Fortaleza (the proper Portuguese spelling). In its natural habitat, it is subject to more sun and wind, and cooler temperatures. It apparently has a more compact form, without quite as much fuzziness as the collection from Florianopolis." Mauro Piexoto discovered the plant and describes finding it (reported on burwur.net): "Dr Alain Chautems is preparing the Gesneriaceae family of the "Illustrated Flora of Santa Catarina State" and had some doubts about a few [specimens of] dried material that he was analyzing... One of the doubts was a Sinningia that looked like a small leaved S. lineata that someone had collected years ago at a place called "Testa do Macaco" (Monkey's Forehead). So we went to Florianopolis, Santa Catarina. Dr. Ademir Reis from the UFSC (Federal University of Santa Catarina) hired a local guide to take us there. After half hiking and half climbing up a mountain for 2 hours we finally reached the plant!" |
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| 7th September 2017 | ||
