Sinningia cochlearis

1. Leaf
2. Feature table
3. Publication and etymology

This picture, taken May 28, 2007, shows the flowerstalk on a plant grown by Jon Dixon.

Sinningia cochlearis is closely related to S. gigantifolia.

Because S. gigantifolia has a wider geographical range than S. cochlearis, and the range of S. cochlearis is contained within that of S. gigantifolia, Perret et al. conclude that S. cochlearis has evolved from within S. gigantifolia with specialization for a particular type of environment (open highlands rather than highland forest).

In this picture you can see Jon Dixon's plant, exhibited in the 2004 San Francisco gesneriad show.  Note the "snail-shell" bases of the two leaves (curled in opposite directions).

A little secret here.  As in a few of Vermeer's paintings, you can see traces of removed items.  In this case, just to the right and above the top flower, are visible the remnants of a plant saucer photoshopped (mostly) out of the picture.  The plant was photographed on the show table with other plants nearby.

I don't photoshop plants themselves.  Plants are displayed on these pages as they actually were, warts and all.  But sometimes I remove distracting background elements.