Domingos martins

Sinningia speciosa "Domingos Martins"

 
  1. Feature table

Sinningia speciosa has many varieties, most named after a particular location in the Brazilian states of Rio de Janeiro or Espírito Santo.  Domingos Martins is a forested location in the mountainous region of the latter state.


This variety resembles the Regina typ, with dark green leaves ornamented with light green veins.  The foliage is reminiscent of Gloxinella lindeniana.

Even though these pictures don't show it, the flowers are purple.  (I couldn't photoshop the colors from this blue to the real purple without mangling other aspects of the picture, so you'll have to use your imagination.  The flowers are purple.)

The flowers are ordinarily of the slipper type.

However, S. speciosa seems to have a built-in inclination to make peloric flowers, and S. "Domingos Martins" is no exception.  Here is a picture of a peloric flower, which can be seen on the above picture as well, in side view.



 

Feature table for Sinningia speciosa 'Domingos Martins'

Plant Description

Growth Indeterminate
Habit Short stems with opposite leaves
Leaves Large, dark green, with white or light green midrib, veins
Dormancy Completely deciduous.  Dormancy is obligate.

Flowering

Inflorescence (often one-flowered) axillary cymes
Season Flowers in summer
Flower Bell-shaped, bluish-purple.

Horticultural aspects

Hardiness Not yet tested.
Propagation Easy, from stem cuttings, with high success rate.
Recommended? A qualified yes.  I do not have good luck keeping S. speciosa alive, and this variety is no exception.  At this point [October 2011], I no longer have any surviving plants.  If you have good results with other plants of S. speciosa, you should try this one.  The foliage is very attractive.

Botany

Taxonomic group The speciosa group in the Sinningia clade.