Family · Asterids
Gesneriaceae
African violet, gloxinia
Tropical herbs and shrubs with showy tubular flowers; includes African violet and gloxinia.
- Accepted species
- 4,070accepted names · Kew WCVP
- Genera
- 158accepted genera · Kew WCVP
- Origin
- ≈39 MaPaleogene · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
- Centre of diversity
- Asia-Tropicalmost native species · WGSRPD
Open Gesneriaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.›
Plants you might know
- Saintpaulia
- Streptocarpus
- Sinningia
- Gesneria
Largest genera
Cyrtandra741 spp.
Primulina252 spp.
Columnea228 spp.
Aeschynanthus195 spp.
Streptocarpus184 spp.
Besleria183 spp.
Oreocharis161 spp.
Paraboea150 spp.
Codonoboea130 spp.
Didymocarpus104 spp.
Agalmyla96 spp.
Drymonia93 spp.
Henckelia84 spp.
Sinningia80 spp.
Petrocosmea70 spp.
Gesneria63 spp.
Petrocodon61 spp.
Microchirita56 spp.
Hemiboea46 spp.
Nautilocalyx41 spp.
Gasteranthus39 spp.
Monophyllaea39 spp.
Lysionotus37 spp.
Nematanthus32 spp.
Glossoloma31 spp.
Trichodrymonia31 spp.
Ridleyandra30 spp.
Cremosperma26 spp.
Kohleria25 spp.
Monopyle25 spp.
Achimenes24 spp.
Moussonia24 spp.
Rhynchotechum23 spp.
Rhytidophyllum23 spp.
Diastema21 spp.
Epithema20 spp.
Pearcea19 spp.
Billolivia18 spp.
Raphiocarpus18 spp.
Napeanthus17 spp.
Ornithoboea17 spp.
Solenophora17 spp.
Boeica16 spp.
Amalophyllon14 spp.
Loxostigma14 spp.
Rhynchoglossum14 spp.
Boea13 spp.
Centrosolenia13 spp.
Codonanthopsis13 spp.
Metapetrocosmea13 spp.
Corytoplectus12 spp.
Liebigia12 spp.
Coronanthera11 spp.
Damrongia11 spp.
Palmatiboea11 spp.
Yaoa11 spp.
Beccarinda10 spp.
Paradrymonia10 spp.
Paraloxocarpus10 spp.
Vanhouttea10 spp.
The 98 smaller genera are in the interactive tree.
Where it grows
- Asia-Tropical1,719
- Southern America1,195
- Asia-Temperate819
- Pacific224
- Africa185
- Northern America123
- Australasia9
- Europe5
Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.
Related families
Gesneriaceae sits in the order Lamiales.
- LamiaceaeMints — basil, lavender, sage, rosemary8,295
- AcanthaceaeAcanthus, black-eyed Susan vine5,603
- ScrophulariaceaeFigworts, buddleja2,324
- OrobanchaceaeBroomrapes, Indian paintbrush2,287
- PlantaginaceaePlantains, snapdragon, foxglove2,210
- VerbenaceaeVerbena, lantana, teak950
- BignoniaceaeJacaranda, catalpa, trumpet vine890
- OleaceaeOlive, ash, lilac, jasmine772
- LentibulariaceaeBladderworts, butterworts453
- LinderniaceaeFalse pimpernels330
- CalceolariaceaeSlipper flowers274
- PhrymaceaeMonkeyflowers230
- PedaliaceaeSesame79
- Mazaceae50
- Stilbaceae40
- Schlegeliaceae38
- MartyniaceaeDevil's claw14
- PaulowniaceaeEmpress tree11
- ByblidaceaeRainbow plants8
- Thomandersiaceae6
- Carlemanniaceae5
- Tetrachondraceae3
- Plocospermataceae1