Almost six months ago, I reported first experiences with seed-grown Gesneria cuneifolia. Now it is time for a follow-up.
After the quickly germinated and developed seedlings of G. cuneifolia had grown untypically tall, I planted another glass with the slow-growing seedlings. These plants now show the habit of plants grown in their natural environment, albeit with lighter leaf colouring. Very recently, the first inflorescences and flowers have appeared. Looking at the shape of the flower, it quickly becomes plausible that this species is pollinated by hummingbirds in its natural habitat in Puerto Rico (Martén-Rodríguez and Fenster 2008). According to the autohrs, these tubular-flowered Gesneria are capable of autonomous self-pollination, so I am curious to see seed developing.
The comparison of the two pictures below shows how the plants have developed over a period of approx. 20 weeks. With moderate growth, two inflorescences and one open flower have developed.
The video below shows a 360° view of the container with the eye-catching, purple-red flower.
Note: An earlier version of this post, online until 22.01.2025, contained a different picture of a G. cuneifolia flower, taken on 09.01.2025.
Hermetospheres 
One response to “Follow-up: Gesneria cuneifolia”
[…] cuneifolia is endemic to the island of Puerto Rico and it is able to thrive and flower in hermetospheres. It has long been known that the plant is capable of autonomous self-pollination. […]
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