AFRICAN VIOLET

Saintpaulias, commonly known

as African violets, are a genus of
620 species of herbaceous
perennial flowering plants , native
to Tanzania and adjacent
southeastern Kenya in eastern
tropical Africa.

Taxonomy
AND FOUNDER
The plants get their common name "African violet" from their

superficial resemblance to true violets (Viola, family Violaceae

).
The genus is named after Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire
(18601910), the district commissioner of Tanga province who
discovered the plant in Tanganyika (now Tanzania) in Africa in
1892 and sent seeds back to his father, an amateur botanist
in Germany. Two British plant enthusiasts, Sir John Kirk and
Reverend W.E. Taylor, had earlier collected and submitted
specimens to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew , in 1884 and
1887 respectively, but the quality of specimens was
insufficient to permit scientific description at that time. The
genus Saintpaulia, and original species S. ionantha, were
scientifically described by H. Wendland in 1893.

Characteristics
Saintpaulias, which grow from 615cm tall,

can be anywhere from 630cm wide. The

leaves are rounded to oval, 2.58.5cm long
with a 210cm petiole, finely hairy, and have
a fleshy texture. The flowers are 23cm in
diameter, with a five-lobed velvety corolla
("petals"), and grow in clusters of 310 or
more on slender stalks called peduncles. Wild
species can have violet, purple, pale blue, or
white flowers.

PEST
Pests attacking african violets are divided into

three according to the damage they cause

and they are, chewing pest, sucking pest, and
nuisance pest.
SUCKING PEST- cyclamen mites, foliar
maelybugs, spider mites, aphids, E.T.C.
CHEWING PEST- thrips, american cockroach,
snails and slugs.
NUISANCE PEST- pillbugs, earwigs, and
springtails.

CULTURE USES
African violets has been long associated with

mothers and motherhood

African violets are also used for decoration
They are also used for traditional gifts to
mothers around the world
African violets are also associated with easter
and valentines day.

THANK YOU