Sinningia aggregata

aggregata in habitat

This picture was taken by Jim Roberts in Brazil.  He and Mauro Peixoto found a number of these plants growing on a beach.


aggregata tuber in habitat

This picture, also taken by Jim Roberts, shows a Sinningia aggregata tuber wedged into rocks.  Like many exposed tubers in habitat, it is covered with epiphytes, in this case probably lichens and perhaps a few mosses.

Hybridization

S. aggregata 'Pendulina' has been crossed with S. sceptrum to obtain a fertile hybrid, which was then crossed with S. tubiflora to yield another fertile (and scented) hybrid, S. 'Apricot Bouquet'.


Feature table for Sinningia aggregata

Plant Description

Growth Indeterminate
Habit Stems upright or sprawling
Leaves Green, hairy, often sticky
Dormancy Stems fully deciduous

Flowering

Inflorescence Axillary cyme
Season Blooms in summer
Flower Red, tubular.  There is also a yellow-flowered variety.

Horticultural aspects

Hardiness The late Fred Stryker had a S. aggregata plant growing outdoors in San Jose, California, where it would have been exposed to at least 0 C (32 F).

Botany

Taxonomic group The tall-or-sticky group of the Corytholoma clade.




External Links

See a picture on Ron Myhr's Gesneriad Reference Web.  There is also a picture of the yellow-flowered form.  And Ron recommends this picture.

Publication

Sinningia aggregata was first published (as Gesneria aggregata) in 1818 by John Bellenden Ker-Gawler (1764-1842).  It was later a Corytholoma (1848) and a Rechsteineria (1891).  Hans Wiehler transferred it to Sinningia in 1975.

Etymology: Latin aggregata ("assembled"), from greg- (nom. sing. grex), "crowd".