Tuberous Gesneriads
A
tuber is an enlarged storage area on the root of some plants. People
familiar with the common potato will know exactly what a tuber is as will
anyone who has grown tuberous begonias. Tuberous plants will go dormant
during trying conditions of heat and drought and are reborn from the tuber
when the conditions become favourable again. The gesneriad family has a
major group of members that are tuberous. This genus is known as Sinningia
and it has many species, large and small, low-growing or almost tree-like.
Sinningia hail from Central and South America. The so-called Florist
Gloxinia is actually a Sinningia, while the plant that is truly called
Gloxinia is in another category, the rhizomatous gesneriads. The only other
Gesneriad that produces tubers that is frequently encountered is called
Nautilocalyx.
Click here to see our Photogallery of popular tuberous types:
