Sarmienta

Sarmienta
Sarmienta scandens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Gesneriaceae
Genus: Sarmienta
Ruiz & Pav. (1794), nom. cons.
Species:
S. scandens
Binomial name
Sarmienta scandens
(J.D. Brandis) Pers. (1805)
Synonyms[1]
  • Sarmienta repens Ruiz & Pav. (1798)
  • Urceolaria chilensis Molina (1810)
  • Urceolaria scandens J.D.Brandis (1786)

Sarmienta scandens, the Chilean pitcher flower, is a species of flowering plant, and the sole member of its genus within the family Gesneriaceae. It is an epiphyte native to the cool temperate rainforest of southern and central Chile.

The Latin specific epithet scandens means "climbing".[2]

Description

Reaching just 10 cm (3.9 in) tall by 50 cm (20 in) broad, it is a creeping evergreen perennial with small oval leaves and pendent scarlet pitcher-shaped flowers in summer.[3]

Cultivation

In temperate regions it is usually grown under glass, either epiphytically or using a specialist potting medium containing leaf mould or sphagnum moss. It may be placed outside during the summer months, in a warm sheltered spot where the temperature does not fall below 5 °C (41 °F).[4] It may however survive brief periods down to 0 °C (32 °F).[3]

The plant is still widely advertised as Sarmienta repens, a name which is now regarded as illegitimate.[5]

Sarmienta scandens has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[4][6]

References

  1. ^ Sarmienta scandens (J.D.Brandis) Pers. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  2. ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 978-1845337315.
  3. ^ a b Brickell, Christopher, ed. (2008). The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 957. ISBN 9781405332965.
  4. ^ a b "RHS Plantfinder - Sarmienta scandens". Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  5. ^ "The Gesneriad Web: Sarmienta repens". The Gesneriad Society. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  6. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 95. Retrieved 31 October 2018.