Family Gesneriaceae
Sainipaulia ionamhe is named after Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire, who found the species growing in East Africa, in 1893, when he was the District Governor of the former German Colony there. This is a plant which is nearly always referred to by its common name of African violet, and it is so well known that it is not really necessary to describe it.
African violets can be grown from seed but it is better to buy plants as, by this means, you can select plants in flower, choosing the flowers which have the greatest appeal to you. Plants grown from seed may not produce flowers which give you the same pleasure, and could prove disappointing, so if you only intend to grow a few plants, it is better to purchase plants in flower and propagate your further requirements by means of leaf cuttings.
