ous! 7 FANTASTIC GARDENS 
Dae ie A 
REO) a 
* MAR31 1952 4 
U. S. Department of Agriculture 
“R. G. WILSON 
9550 S. W. 67th Avenue 
So. Miami 43, Florida 
LIST OF GESNERIADS - 1952 
OP mre terme Pe tetas 
Other plants in the African Violet Family 
CULTURE 
In general, the culture of all gesneriads is similar. They prefer a loose 
sandy soil with plenty of half~-rotted leafmold and fibrous peat with some fine char- 
coal added, and a small amount of dried sheep manure, sterile and free of nematodes. 
Put extra good drainage in the bottom of the pot, Some of them (Columneas and Tri- 
chosporums in particular) are epiphytic in habit and my best results have been 
obtained when I have grown them in shredded osmunda mixed with a smaller proportion 
of leafmold, but making sure the drainage is perfect. Also most gesneriads will 
develop water spots on the foliage from overhead watering when the temperature is 
high. The rules for fertilizing African Violets hold true for these other relatives 
~ liquid fertilizer applied about every two weeks during growth is sufficient. The 
bulbous types, Gesneria, Isoloma, Kohleria, Gloxinia, Naegelia, Sinningia, etc. take 
a rest after their blooming period is over and water should be applied only often 
enough to keep the bulbs from shrinking when they are dormant. A brighter light 
exposure than you have found best for flowering African Violets will be just about 
right for most other gesneriads. 
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EPISCIA: Very tender tropical plants, all of which have beautiful foliage and 
most have brilliant scarlet flowers. 
Coccinea (fulgida) - brownish hairy leaves with silvery green veins $ .75 
Cupreata - Hairy copper-colored leaves Pi he 
Cupreata var. Viridifolia - smooth nile green leaves, best bloomer Pal be 
Cupreata var. Silver Sheen - leaves bright silver with darker margin 1.00 
Splendens ~ smooth light green and silver leaves ate 
Sp. #1 - smooth, silvery green leaves with brown margin, distinct at 
Sp. #2 - soft, downy bronze leaves with broad iridescent lilac midrib. 
We erronously called this E,lilacina last year Py 6) 
All above varieties have scarlet flowers. 
Chontalensis ~- small dark green leaves, light blue fringed flowers ef) 
Collection of above 8 varieties 5,00 
New species this year: 
* Tessellata (Centrosolenia bullata) - This is a distinct, upright growing, 
yellow-flowered Episcia with large glossy, bubbly leaves. A very 
unusual foliage plant. 2.00 
* Lilacina - This species and the next have just been brought back from 
the jungles, and plants will be ready for sale in July. 
Medium bronzy leaves, large blue flowers (Note: Not same as Sp.#2) 2.50 
* Sp. Nova (#3) - Very beautiful foliage, broad pattern of silvery-green Ae D0 
xALLOPLECTUS ambiguus ~ looks like a Columnea; new, has not bloomed yet aha 
~COLUMNEA banksii - trailing plant with small dark green glossy leaves red 
beneath; new, has not flowered yet 1.00 
COLUMNEA gloriosa - trailing stems to five feet long; small hairy brownish 
leaves; large tubular scarlet flowers; very choice. 1,50 
