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Glite Dictionary
Saintpaulia

Saintpaulia

9.9
A small houseplant with round leaves and purple flowers
  • noun
  • /seɪntˈpɔːliə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Saintpaulia
  • My grandmother grows several Saintpaulia plants on her kitchen windowsill.

Examples

  • The Saintpaulia is prized for its delicate, violet-colored flowers and lush leaves.

  • I bought a beautiful Saintpaulia for my living room.

  • Botanists sometimes debate the classification of Saintpaulia within the family Gesneriaceae.

  • The Saintpaulia blooms all year round.

  • My grandmother grows several Saintpaulia plants on her kitchen windowsill.

  • The Saintpaulia is prized for its delicate, violet-colored flowers and lush leaves.

  • I bought a beautiful Saintpaulia for my living room.

Synonyms

African violet
vsSaintpaulia
  • South African
1 4.3

A small African plant with soft fuzzy leaves and violet, white, or pink flowers kept indoors

is the scientific genus name used in botanical classification

Compounds

Saintpaulia ionantha
  • Specialized
8.4

A small African houseplant with violet, white, or pink flowers

Surface Forms

Saintpaulia singular
Saintpaulias plural

Etymology

Saintpaulia is the scientific name for the African violet and comes from the family name of Baron Saint Paul-Illaire, who first sent the plant from East Africa to Europe. Think of it like 'Saint Paul's violet', which is why Saintpaulia now means these small, violet houseplants.