Hey, Hope someone can help me ID this African Violet. I got it for a gift and was just wondering if anybody knows what it is. The colours are in between the picture with the flash and the one without the flash. It blooms quite easily. Other than that not much I can say. I have had it since last christmas now. Thanks
Mike
After perusing First Class 2 for you, I would guess:
(going w/Optimara, one of the common big mass suppliers of AV's to greenhouses.....what you'll usually find out there, in my experience)
it's most likely Optimara's Gauguin. FC description: (8311) 12/14/1995 (Holtkamp) Single white star/dark lilac patches. Medium green, plain, hairy. Standard.
The photos look just like yours. =)
p.s. by the way, nice looking violet........you grow it well.
This message was edited Sep 24, 2005 4:28 PM
I love the coloring on that one! good growing.
My take on identifying AVs (and hybrids and clones of any plant) is that unless you know the source or hybridizer, it is impossible to ID for sure. There are just too many to pick from and there are tons of plants grown from crossed seed and selfed seed, and many look alike. This sounds a bit harsh but I urge people not to put names on plants they are passing on to others. (I've traded enough - here and elsewhere - to know what a mess it can be.) My preference is to put a name followed by a "?" or "best guess".
But all that was just general commentary. Coming from an orchid background, I'm just horrified at how lax the gesneriad registrations are.
Back to your plant, do Optimara's plants make their way to Canada in large quantities too? I don't see them much near where I live - Opt. is based in Tennesee, I think.
(edited typo.)
This message was edited Sep 24, 2005 7:23 PM
Oh, Keyring, you truly are SO right. Lax, lax, terribly, rottenly lax. And, I firmly agree--getting a "name" is SO nice, when you desperately want to know "who" a plant is, study up on it, etc. BUT, I never trade a supposed plant ever--for the reasons you mentioned. Everything is so iffy in the AV naming, with such alot of people buying the NoID's in the big box stores (which is ok, I'm not slamming, by any means) and then wanting to know who the "purple one" is! lol
I based my guess entirely on the fact that HERE--didn't even really take into account where west was from--about 75% of the AV's are from Optimara, with a very androgenous tag listing "Go to our website to obtain the name of your violet" stuck in the mix. And, that it truly did appear to be O.'s 'Gauguin.'
But, regardless, I defer to your comments, and agree.
=) MKJ
Thanks. Was unaware AV's were that much of a mess to identify. Appreciate the effort was just curious so it won't hurt me to not know. Thanks for the comments about it. It's been very easy to grow. The pictures are actually from back in May. It is even larger now and I have already propagated one plant from it and have 4 more cuttings started last week. My first cutting has about 22 little leaves on it already. As for who supplies AV's to Canada. Lol No clue. It probably was like you said a no name. I would guess it came from Art Knapps here in Canada and alot of their plants come from local Greenhouses as we have alot of them so it might be a local even. Hadnt thought about it. I love Gauguin's art so thats cool you thought it might be that but sadly from the pic I found it isn't it. Gauguin has frilly flowers and this doesnt so it probably isnt it. Thanks though it was appreciated. =)
Picture of Gauguin.
This message was edited Sep 24, 2005 6:48 PM
Your mystery plant is gorgeous! I love flowers with little bits of coloring on it like that. Maybe some day we can trade?? Especially since it sounds like you're doing a great job propagating it... :)
--Dana
