SEEDER BR SLADE EP NOE BP ERD EDC) PORE) TAS) -PRNDA OV A UE PR ER 
Botanical Gardens at Herrenhausen in Hanover. 
In 1893 the plant was described in detail by Herr 
Wendland, who also gave it the genus name, 
Saintpaulia, in honor of the Saint Paul-Illaire 
family, and the species name, ionantha. 
Ownership rights of the new genus were 
bought by the seed firm of Ernst Benary of 
Erfurt, Germany, and in 1898 the first plants were 
offered for sale. It is interesting to know that 
this firm has survived two world wars and at the 
present time are offering for sale three Saint- 
paulia varieties, a dark blue, a light blue, and a 
red, lavender. 
Several other species have been discovered 
since that time, and are gradually finding their 
way into American greenhouses. Though most of 
the present-day varieties are descended, either 
by cross-pollination or by sport, from S. ionantha, 
the future promises new families from such 
parents as S. diplotricha (popularly - and incor- 
rectly, - known as Kewensis), S. grotei, S. tong- 
wensis, S. orbicularis, and §. goetzeana. 
A propos of European Saintpaulias, you’d 
think that the lack of central heating in Europe 
would give the African Violet pretty tough going © 
in the homes over there. A friend writes from 
Norway, however, that she has spotted quite a few 
violets of different colors and types in the Scan- 
dinavian florist shops. Imagine we will have more 
African Violet tales from distant travelers when 
this summer’s crop of vacationists is back home 
again. 
Yours, 
/ oa Wy 46 

