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This species has one of the widest ranges in the Sinningieae tribe, second only to S. incarnata. According to the Gesneriad Checklist, it is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela, in addition to many of the Atlantic-coast states of Brazil.
I gather that it is one of the "meadow" species, growing in clumps with very little shade. In habit, it resembles S. curtiflora, S. allagophylla, and S. sceptrum.
One interesting feature is the stiffness of the fruit pedicels. After a flower has set seed, its stalk becomes quite rigid. The flowers of S. curtiflora, by contrast, have almost no pedicel, being pretty much flush against the stem. In both cases, it would seem that the fruit is being protected again being broken off by... rain? wind? animals?
This plant has a 54-cm [21-inch] stem. Grown outdoors, this species eventually develops a reasonably sturdy upright stem.
| Plant Description |
|
| Growth | Indeterminate |
| Habit | Tall plant with unbranched stems |
| Leaves | Leaves have a texture something like that of S. allagophylla leaves, but are shorter. The leaves are usually arranged in whorls of three. |
| Dormancy | Stem fully deciduous |
Flowering |
|
| Inflorescence | extended axis |
| Season | Late summer |
| Flower | Red, tubular, with short galea-like hood |
Horticultural Aspects |
|
| Hardiness | I have no data. |
| From seed | 25 months to bloom, under my conditions |
| Recommended? | Oh, probably not. At this time, I cannot see anything special about either the flowers or the foliage or the plant habit. This (2008) is the first year it has bloomed for me; my assessment might change if it gets more floriferous with age. |
Botany |
|
| Taxonomic group | The mixed-up group of the Corytholoma clade. |
Mauro Peixoto's Brazilian Plants site has a page about S. elatior, which includes a nice picture of a fruit.
Kunth, 1818 (as Gesneria elatior).
Etymology: Latin elatior ("higher, best"). Another example of botanical hyperbole (see S. magnifica).