Petrocosmea cryptica cv. Whirlpool Photo by: © Plantemania
Origin and Habitat: China.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Petrocosmea cryptica
back
Accepted name in llifle Database:Petrocosmea cryptica J.M.H.ShawPlantsman n.s., 10(3): 178 (177-179; figs.). 2011 [Sep 2011]
Cultivars
(1):
back
Description: Petrocosmea crypticaSN|33612]]SN|33612]] ‘Whirlpool’, originated in China and has been distributed by Chen Yi (Kaichen Nursery, China) from about 1998. The cultivar ‘Whirlpool’ is a clone derived from the type collection (G25KC00) and has beautiful yellow veins but the typical species is likely to have plain green leaves. This plants is commonly found in cultivation wrongly labelled Petrocosmea rosettifoliaSN|33613]]SN|33613]] or Petrocosmea G25KC00. The epithet cryptica refers to the identity of this species being hidden during the 10 or more years it has been in cultivation.
Habit: It is a perennial herbaceous plant of the family Gesneriaceae, the African violet family. It is remarkable for its neat, tightly imbricate, tile-like rosette of 3 cm ovate leaves, eventually producing offsets. The leaf surfaces have stiff hairs arising from pustulate bases.
Leaves: Green or yellowish-green with paler yellow-green mid and main lateral veins. Leaf-blade shiny and pustulate with long stiff hairs above, greyed green and softly felted below. Petioles with soft wavy hairs.
Inflorescence: Sepals green. Corolla white with pale yellow-green patch in throat.
For more details see: Petrocosmea crypticaSN|33612]]SN|33612]]
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Petrocosmea cryptica group
- Petrocosmea cryptica J.M.H.Shaw: has neat, tightly imbricate, rosette of 3 cm ovate, plain green, leaves. The leaf surfaces have stiff hairs arising from pustulate bases. Distribution. China.
Petrocosmea cryptica cv. Whirlpool J.M.H.Shaw: The cultivar ‘Whirlpool’ is a clone derived from the type collection (G25KC00) and has beautiful yellow veins.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Julian Shaw “A new species of Petrocosmea: Julian Shaw discovers that a gesneriad that has been in cultivation under the wrong name for more than 10 years is a new species” The Plantsman September 2011 pp 177-179 https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-the-rhs/publications/magazines/the-plantsman/2011-issues/september/Petrocosmea
2) Drew, R (2002) “Sussex Show, October 6th. The Alpine Gardener” 70(1): 82–85
3) Drew, R (2003) “Developing a collection of subalpine gesneriads”. The Alpine Gardener 71(3): 297–307
4) Li, Z-Y & Wang, Y-Z (2005) “Plants of Gesneriaceae in China”. Henan Science and Technology Publishing House, China
5) Middleton, DJ & Triboun, P (2010) “Two new species of Petrocosmea”. Thai Forest Bull., Bot. 38: 42–47
6) Wang, W (1985) “The second revision of Petrocosmea”. Acta Bot.Yunnan. 7(1): 49–68
7) Wang, W, Pan, K-Y, Li, Z-Y, Weitzman, AL & Skog, LE (1998) Petrocosmea. In: Flora of China Editorial Committee (eds) “Flora of China” Vol. 18. Science Press, Beijing, & Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St Louis
8) Tim Tuttle “Culture of Petrocosmea: My Way” “As distributed to the National Capital Area Chapter of The Gesneriad Society in April 2009
Cultivation and Propagation: Petrocosmea offsets free. Once removed offsets are treated just like cutting until they form roots.
Theys may never need large pots.
