Boea

The genus is named for M. le Beau , a relative of Philibert Commerson , who was the first collector of Boei species.

Perennial grassy rhizomes of ground plants are stemless or with a short stem, sometimes lignified at the base. The leaves are opposite, in stemless species they are spirally placed - they form a rosette, oval, oval-cordate, naked or with long hairs, smooth or with expressive venation, the edge is serrated, green. Inflorescences are axillary, on long peduncles , few or multi-flowered, on average about 15 flowers , often an umbrella type. Sepals are small, not overgrown. The flower is zygomorphic . The corolla is bell-shaped with a 5-lobed limb, sometimes clearly two-lipped, the upper lip is two-lobed and painted lighter, the lower lip is of three blades and painted darker; there is also a type of perianth with a short tube and wide open lobes. The color of the perianth is white, bluish or purple. Stamens 2, fused, filaments bright yellow, anthers usually cream or light brown. The ovary is cylindrical or cylindrical-conical, smoothly turning into a pistil with a capitate stigma. The fruit is a bicuspid spiral twisted box .

Extensive habitat - South China , India , Northern Thailand , Vietnam , Philippines , Sulawesi , Sumbawa , Flores , New Guinea , Solomon Islands , Australia . In nature, they grow in mountain forests at an altitude of up to 1,500 meters, on land and on rocks.

In culture recently. Grown as a decorative flowering potted plant. In amateur floriculture, two species of Boea hemsleyana and Boea higroscopica are cultivated .

Landing. Planted in a loose, nutritious water and breathable substrate , with the addition of peat and crushed limestone. at the bottom of the pot, drainage is made from a layer of expanded clay, shards or coarse sand.

Care. The plant is photophilous, but does not tolerate direct sunlight. Watering is moderate, regular, without drying out or stagnating water in the pan. Do not wet the leaves when watering. It prefers high humidity, but you should avoid spraying and getting water on the leaves. The optimum temperature is 19-20 ° C. Regular top dressing during the growth period - from spring to autumn 1 time in 2 weeks with liquid complex fertilizer 1/2 of the recommended dose. From late autumn to February, reduce watering and not fertilize.

Transfer. Transplanted every year or every two years in a fresh earthen substrate.

Reproduction. Leafy cuttings , sowing seeds.

According to The Plant List ^[2]

• Boea clarkeana Hemsl. ^[3]
• Boea dennisii BLBurtt
• Boea densihispidula SBZhou & XHGuo
• Boea geoffrayi Pellegr.
• Boea hemsleyana BLBurtt
• Boea hians burkill
• Boea hygrometrica ( Bunge ) R. Br. ^[four]
• Boea hygroscopica F. Muell . ^[five]
• Boea kinnearii ( F. Muell . ) BLBurtt
• Boea lawesii HOForbes
• Boea Magellanica Lam. typus
• Boea minutiflora Ridl.
• Boea mollis Schltr.
• Boea philippensis CBClarke
• Boea rosselensis BLBurtt
• Boea urvillei CBClarke
• Boea wallichii R. Br.

• All about indoor violets. / Van der Neer, - SPb .: S3KEO Crystal LLC, Moscow: Onyx, 2007

• Boea in A. Weber & LE Skog 2007, Genera of Gesneriaceae .
• World Checklist of Gesneriaceae