I have been given a houseplant I thought to be a Strep. The same basal leaf arrangement and flower held aloft on long (6" +/-) stem. Leaves do not have the ribbing or veination of normal streps but are smooth, gently rounded at the tip, mid semi-glossy green and lightly hirsuit, about 6-8" long. Flower is yellow and bell-shaped.No one has a clue, no info in the books or garden centres. Are there any yellow streptocarpus, I haven't seen any, perhaps it's a sub species or hybrid? Any ides would be most appreciated, it's driving me quite mad. Help anyone!
If the flowers are not tube shaped, sounds like a hybrid cross, or something un Streptocarpus? Photos?
According to RHS, there is only one yellow streptocarpus. http://www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea/2008/new-plants.asp Scroll down to Dibleys Nurseries Streptocarpus ‘Alissa’, just past the middle of the page. Not very yellow though, fairly pale in colour.
It looks like a young Chirita to me. A relative of Streptocarpus. It can have yellow flowers on a long peduncle. Not as large a flower as streps, but lovely. Propagate as with African violets. Carol
Thanks Carol, yes you're right, I have just found out that it is indeed a Chirita. Haven't heard of them before even though I have MSc in tropical plant sciences (always something new to learn)! Am looking forward to the first flush of flowers in the summer.
Do you know its name? It looks like a hybrid. You might check out the gesneriad reference web when it blooms, if you don't know which one you have. I really am fond of Chiritas. I only have three, with one on the way. http://www.gesneriads.ca/ Carol