PLANTS INTRODUCED INTO THE VICTORIA GARDENS. 3&1 



31, Saintpaulia ionantha, * Wend. (Gesnerace^). It is commonly 

 known as the Natal, Transvaal, or South African violet. It is an attractive 

 perennial, stemlfss, hairy, herbaceous plant, native of Eastern Tropical 

 Africa. Leaves are petioled, oval or roundish, about two inches in diameter, 

 dark green, cordate, with crenate margin. The flowers are nodding, about an 

 inch in diameter, two-lipped, violet blue. The plant was purchased from the 

 Agri-Horticultural Society of India, Calcutta, in February, 1901, It has been 

 propagated like the begonias by putting down the leaves as cuttings. It 

 seems to thrive well here in j)artial shade and has been cultivated as a 

 conservatory plant. It hr.s begun flowering in December this year, and is 

 said to be flowering continuously throughout thp year. 



* Named in honour of Baron Walter Saintpanl, who discovered it in Africa and 

 introduced it in Europe in 1893, and from ionantha, meaning violet-flowered. 



