Sinningia iarae

1. Recurved galea
2. Tuber
3. Feature table
4. Publication and etymology

Sinningia iarae is an attractive species, although I have had trouble keeping one alive.  My primary plant gave up the ghost last year, and seedlings have always languished.

This is in contrast to its close relative S. glazioviana, which is very easy-going.

The leaves are normal fuzzy cardinalis green, but the stems, petioles, pedicels, and midrib of the leafback are dark red.

Sinningia iarae is one of the Galea Group, with the upper two lobes of the corolla fused into a hood which overhangs the anthers and stigma.  Flower color is a distinctive dusky red, quite different from the brilliant red of S. cooperi, for instance. 

Recurved galea

The galea is slightly recurved (bent backwards), which is also unusual.  The other species with a slightly recurved galea is its close relative S. glazioviana.

The inflorescence is worth noting also.  There are flowers from the axils of the uppermost vegetative leaves, and then a stalk which is a continuation of the vegetative axis, culminating in more flowers in the axils of very small bracts.  There are no peduncles.

Tuber

See a picture of the tuber.

Feature table for Sinningia iarae

Publication

Chautems, 1995, in Gesneriana 1(1).  The species is native to São Paolo state, where it is known as orelha de onça ("jaguar's ear").

Sinningia iarae is named for Iara Peixoto of Brazil.