How to identify African Violet
Identify African Violet by combining habit, leaf characters, flower or fruit details, location, and its family pattern. Do not rely on one feature alone.
- Check the distinctive field mark: Rosette of velvety leaves, cultivated (African violet).
- Confirm leaf surface: Pubescent (softly hairy).
- Confirm flower colour: Purple.
- Confirm it sits within the Gesneriaceae family pattern, then compare close relatives before deciding it is African Violet.
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Streptocarpus ionanthus
- Genus
- Streptocarpus
- Family
- Gesneriaceae
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Leaf characters
- Leaf surface
- Pubescent (softly hairy)recorded
Characters marked “recorded” are for African Violet itself; the rest are typical of the Gesneriaceae family.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower colour
- PurplerecordedPurple or violet
Typical of the family
- Flower symmetry
- Zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical)
- Inflorescence
- Cyme
- Fruit
- Berry
Characters marked “recorded” are for African Violet itself; the rest are typical of the Gesneriaceae family — flowering plants only.
About African Violet
African Violet (Streptocarpus ionanthus) belongs to the Gesneriaceae family.
Gesneriaceae
Gesneria Family
African Violet belongs to the Gesneriaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
Explore the Gesneriaceae familySnap it. Know it.
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Common plant problems
If you are starting from symptoms instead of a diagnosis, use the plant disease symptom checker to narrow the cause before treating.
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