Sinningia muscicola
(Sinningia sp. "Rio das Pedras")

1. From seed
2. As a volunteer
3. Feature table
4. Publication and etymology

This attractive miniature species achieved widespread distribution after the 2002 Gesneriad Society convention in Morristown NJ, where Mauro Peixoto sold seeds of several new and rare species.  In many ways, this new variety appears to be quite similar to S. pusilla, except for the dramatic, dark markings on slightly larger leaves and the absence of S. pusilla's floral spur, visible in the picture on the micro comparison page.

Here's how tolerant this species is of diverse growing conditions.  This plant is a volunteer in a pot of seedlings of the cactus Echinocereus bristolii.  The cactus seeds were sown in January 2011 and five seedlings were transplanted into this pot in April 2011.  Somewhere along the way, a gesneriad was acquired.

Sinningia muscicola is actually quite remarkable for its drought tolerance.  I have had a tuber sprout after having been in an unwatered small pot for six months, and not wilt when the pot subsequently dried out completely.

This picture was taken in December 2011.