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Gloxinia (Named in honour of Benj Petr)

(named in honour of Benj. Petr. Gloxin, of Colmar, a botanical writer). SYNS. Escheria and Salisia (of Regel). ORD. Gesneraceoe. A genus containing six species of elegant stove plants, all natives of tropical America. Flowers variously coloured, sometimes variegated with spots, axillary, usually singly or a few together, large, nodding. Leaves opposite, stalked. The innumerable form which are cultivated as Gloxinias rightly belong to the genus Sinningia, and most of them are derived from S. speciosa. On account, however, of their being so universally known as Gloxinias, the cultivation is here given.

Few stove plants are more beautiful than Gloxinias; and they may, by potting successionally, be had in flower throughout the greater part of the year. They always prove attractive in a warm house, and are very useful for cutting. The flowers originally were all drooping, as shown in Fig. 116, which detracted considerably from their beauty, as now exhibited in the numerous varieties with erect flowers. Some have colours of intense rich crimson; other are pure white, or are delicately spotted and pencilled internally. Propagation. Gloxinias may be annually increased in large quantities by seeds, and by cuttings of the stems or leaves. Seeds should be sown early in February, in well-drained pots or small pans of finely-sifted soil, composed of peat, leaf mould, and sand, in about equal proportions. After the seeds are thinly sown, and only very slightly covered with soil, they should be carefully watered, placed in a temperature of about 70deg., and kept shaded. On the appearance of the seedlings, a sharp look-out must be kept, to prevent them damping; and, as soon as large enough, they should be pricked off, about 1in. apart, in other pots of similar soil, and, in due course, potted into single ones. Seedlings form good plants, and flower the same season, if sown early, and afterwards grown on without check, being always kept shaded, and in a moist, warm temperature. Cuttings of shoots may be secured when the old bulbs are started in spring; they strike very readily in a close propagating frame, and make good plants for flowering the following summer. Leaf cuttings may be inserted when the plants are ripening, or at other times if firm ones can be spared. They should be inserted with a small portion of the petiole attached-a bulb forms at the base of this for flowering the next year. A method of propagating more rapidly by matured leaves, is to cut through the midribs at the back of each, at distances of about 1in. apart and peg them down flat on pans of light soil, or on cocoa fibre, in a propagating frame. Numerous bulbils will eventually be formed at all the firmer parts of the midribs where incisions have been made, and may be collected from the soil or fibre when the other portions of the leaf are decayed. Cultivation. Gloxinias are naturally summer-flowering plants, and should be started into growth about February, or earlier, if desired. A portion may be retained for a succession, to be followed, in early autumn, by seedlings, thus securing a long period for a display with even a limited number of plants. The roots should be removed from the dry soil in which they have been stored, or from other sources, as the case may be, placed in small pots, and stood in a temperature of about 65deg. The soil best suited is leaf mould, not too much decayed, and lumpy peat, in equal proportions, with the addition of a little sand or charcoal. Loam is sometimes used, but it is not required if watering is attended to. The pots should be well drained, and nearly filled, the bulbs being pressed in and covered with soil, which is best raised above them in the middle of the pot. No water is required until growth begins, except a little syringing round the pots, to prevent the soil becoming too dry. When growing, the plants require plenty of water, and are much benefited by copious syringings with tepid water morning and evening, in summer. Cold water must on no account be applied, or much injury will ensue. Before the small pots are filled with roots, and if the plants are calculated to grow strongly, a shift into the flowering sizes, which range from 5in. to 8in. in diameter, may be effected. A light position, and shading from sunshine, will ensure a sturdy growth, which eventually produces flowers of good substance. Air should be carefully admitted, and the leaves handled with caution, as they are exceedingly brittle. Artificial manure, or manure water, is beneficial when the flowers appear, but it should be kept from the foliage. The flowers last longer if the plants are subjected to a cooler temperature and more air at the flowering season. As the leaves ripen, water should be withheld; and when they die away, the roots may be stored in a dry place till the following spring, but they must not be exposed to cold.

Insects. The leaves and flower-stalks are frequently much injured by Thrips. If these are allowed a footing, it is difficult to effect eradication; but injury may be largely prevented by maintaining a moist atmosphere during the time the plants are growing.

G. diversiflora (variable-flowered). A pretty, dwarf, free flowering hybrid, probably of garden origin.

G. gesneroides (Gesnera-like) is said to be a hybrid between a Sinningia and Gesnera Donkelaariana. It has fiery-red flowers. See Fig. 120, for which we are indebted to Messrs. Carter. The absurdity of the name is apparent; it is mentioned here solely because it is known by no other name in gardens. G. glabra (glabrous). fl. white; throat yellow, spotted with purple; corolla funnel-shaped; lobes nearly equal, with wavy, finely-fringed edges; calycine segments foliaceous; peduncles axillary, solitary, one-flowere. August. l. ovate, acute, serrated, glabrous. Stem erect, simple, sub-tetragonal. h. 9in. 1847. (B. M. 4430, under name of G. fimbriata.) G. maculata (spotted). fl. purplish-blue, downy; peduncles axillary, one-flowered, solitary. June to October. l., radical ones cordate, obtuse, doubly toothed, shining above, reddish beneath. Stems simple, spotted. h. 1ft. South America, 1739. (B. M. 1191.) G. multiflora. See Naegelia amabilis.

G. pallidiflora (pale-flowered). fl. pale blue; lobes of corolla concave; calycine segments linear, reflexed. August. l. broad, sub-obliquely ovate, obscurely serrated, rather pilose above. Stem erect, simple, spotless. h. 1ft. Santa Martha, 1844. (B. M. 4213.) G. Passinghamii (Passingham's). A synonym of Sinningia speciosa. G. speciosa (showy). A synonym of Sinningia speciosa. Varieties. As a much greater variety in colour may be secured from mixed seeds than from a limited number of named sorts, the general and most satisfactory method of growing seedlings is here recommended. Seeds of erect and drooping varieties are sold in separate mixtures.