Hi Gesneriad folks! I can't sleep so I'm trying to do something productive. I got out my external drive with pictures from my old computer and I'm adding all the pictures I have to the plants database. Luckily for you all, I went to a few African Violet shows and have lots of pictures to add.

Two questions, though. First, I have pictures of plants that aren't in the database. Not just African Violets, but also some Columneas, Streptocarpus, etc. I've never added a plant to the database so if someone wants to help me so I can add my pictures, I would be most grateful for a tutorial or some help.

Secondly, it's been a while since I studied Gesneriads and I know taxonomists like to change the names all the time. I have a picture from a show and the tag says Gloxinia 'Chic'. The plant database has an entry for a Sinningia 'Chic'. Same thing or not? Here's the photo so you can judge. Feel free to import it if you want or just tell me it's okay to and I'll do it myself.



I took all these pictures back in 2006 and 2007 which was a few cameras ago so the quality isn't what I'm used to and my technique sure has improved! But I hope you get some joy out of seeing pictures that are new to the database. I'm just in it for the acorns (just kidding)!

Wow, it sure is pretty. I know some Gloxinia were moved to the Semmania genus at one time so I'm thinking the plant in your your may be Seemania 'Chic': http://www.gesneriads.ca/gloxi...

There's another photo of Seemania Chic at the very bottom of this page: http://www.lyndonlyon.com/gesn...

hmm ... I don't see an entry in the ATP database for the Seemania genus so I will submit a proposal for it to be added.

Oops ... my error, I spelled it wrong, it's Seemannia: http://garden.org/plants/brows... but I don't see a listing for the cultivar 'Chic'.

Melanie, I've submitted a proposal to add Seemannia 'Chic' to the database. Apparently it used to be under the genus Gloxinia but has been moved to genus Seemania. As soon as the proposal is approved your photo can be moved to the database.

Thanks, Lin! I got the system message that it was approved. Those darn taxonomists can never make up their mind, can they? I guess they need to keep themselves in a job! I was telling my Dad the other day I can't wait until DNA genome sequencing is super cheap and fast and we can just run specimens through a lab and scientists can categorize things based on that. I'm sure they'll still find things to argue about, but maybe less so?

Melanie - I think about that too! Someone told me though that this is only one criteria for classification - he didn't elaborate, thinking it might bore me??? So I still don't know what the other classifying criteria are Oh well! Its fun to live in a time where names are changing because of new science though!