Episcia

Episcia

Taxobox
name = "Episcia"


image_width = 200px
image_caption = "Episcia reptans"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Lamiales
familia = Gesneriaceae
genus = "Episcia"

"Episcia" is a genus of about 8 species belonging to the flowering plant family Gesneriaceae. The species are found in the tropical regions of Central America and South America (frequently cultivated elsewhere and sometimes naturalizing in tropical regions). The species are perennial herbaceous plants characterized by a stoloniferous habit, red (rarely orange, pink, blue or yellow) flowers, and frequently have marked or patterned leaves. They are grown in the tropics, and in temperate regions as houseplants, primarily for their attractive foliage. Numerous cultivars have been produced, primarily by selection and hybridization of the species "E. cupreata" and "E. reptans".

For much of the Twentieth Century "Episcia" had a broad circumscription but since 1978 has been restricted to a much narrower one, with the genera "Paradrymonia", "Chrysothemis", "Nautilocalyx", and "Alsobia" separated from it. The segregation of these genera from "Episcia" has been supported in recent molecular phylogenies.

Episcias are sometimes called "Flame violets".


References

*Wiehler, H. 1978. The genera "Episcia", "Alsobia", "Nautilocalyx", and "Paradrymonia" (Gesneriaceae). "Selbyana" 5: 11-60.

External links

* [http://www.botanik.univie.ac.at/morphology/genera_gesneriaceae/genera/episcia.htm "Episcia"] from [http://www.botanik.univie.ac.at/morphology/genera_gesneriaceae/index.htm The Genera of Gesneriaceae]
* [http://gesneriads.ca/genepis.htm "Episcia" and "Alsobia"] from the [http://gesneriads.ca Gesneriad Reference Web]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • episcia — [e pish′ə, e pishē ə; ēpish′ə, ipish′ə] n. [ModL < Gr episkia, fem. of episkios, shaded < epi , EPI + skia, shadow < IE * sk̑iya , var. of base * skāi, to gleam softly > SHINE] any of a genus (Episcia) of tropical American plants of… …   English World dictionary

  • Episcĭa — (E. Mart.), Pflanzengattung aus der Familie der Gesneraceae Gesnereae Episcicae; Arten in Brasilien …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Episcia — Episcia …   Wikipédia en Français

  • episcia — noun any plant of the genus Episcia; usually creeping and stoloniferous and of cascading habit; grown for their colorful foliage and flowers • Hypernyms: ↑houseplant • Member Holonyms: ↑genus Episcia * * * ə̇ˈpish(ē)ə noun Etymology: New Latin …   Useful english dictionary

  • Episcia — ID 30778 Symbol Key EPISC Common Name episcia Family Gesneriaceae Category Dicot Division Magnoliophyta US Nativity N/A US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution PR Growth Habit N/A Durat …   USDA Plant Characteristics

  • episcia — noun Etymology: New Latin, from Greek episkios shaded, from epi + skia shadow more at shine Date: circa 1868 any of a genus (Episcia) of tropical American herbs of the gesneriad family that have hairy foliage and are related to the African violet …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • episcia — /i pish ee euh, i pish euh/, n. any of several tropical American plants of the genus Episcia, often cultivated as houseplants for their textured, variegated foliage and showy flowers. [1865 70; < NL < Gk episkiá fem. of episkiós shaded, equiv. to …   Universalium

  • episcia — e•pi•sci•a [[t]ɪˈpɪʃ i ə, ɪˈpɪʃ ə[/t]] n. pl. sci•as pln any tropical American plant of the genus Episcia, having textured, variegated leaves and showy flowers • Etymology: 1865–70; < NL < Gk episkiá, shaded …   From formal English to slang

  • Episcia Mart. — Symbol EPISC Common Name episcia Botanical Family Gesneriaceae …   Scientific plant list

  • Episcia cupreata — ID 30779 Symbol Key EPCU2 Common Name flame violet Family Gesneriaceae Category Dicot Division Magnoliophyta US Nativity Introduced to U.S. US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution PR Growth Habit Forb/herb Duration …   USDA Plant Characteristics

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