Inflorescences grow from the base of the phyllomorphs of both unifoliate and rosulate Streptocarpus. A single inflorescence may arise on these phyllomorphs but often a succession of inflorescences grow allowing repeat flowering, ensuring seed production and survival of the species. In caulescent species, inflorescences arise from the upper opposite leaf axils. Petioles regularly branch and most Streptocarpus produce abundant inflorescences with many flowers which make them horticulturally attractive.
The floral morphology of Streptocarpus is diverse, with eight flower types being recognized: small pouch, open tube, personate, keyhole, Saintpaulia-type, bird pollination, Acanth-type and labellanthus. The family Acathaceae are commonly referred to as “Acanths”. Streptocarpus lilliputana, which is the only species with such flowers, occurs in deep gorges with two species of Acanths, namely Makaya bella and Asystasia varia of which the latter has a flower almost identical to Streptocarpus lilliputana. This flower type is therefore called the Acanth-type which represents a shift in flower form to become attractive to the pollinator of Asystasia varia.
This means that an equally diverse array of pollinators are known to pollinate these flowers, including insects such as flies, moths and possibly butterflies. Some produce scent to attract moths and even birds are known to pollinate red-flowered species. Although Streptocarpus also try to avoid autogamy (self-fertilization) some species of Streptocarpus have been forced to become autogamous because they have dispersed beyond the range of their pollinator or they have evolved to grow in caves and rock clefts not frequented by pollinators. This has spilled over into cultivated hybrid Streptocarpus which are generally self-fertile.
The seed capsule characteristics played a key role in the previous taxonomy and classification of the genus Streptocarpus as its name indicates “strepto” meaning twisted and “carpus” meaning fruit or capsule. Now in its broader circumscription Streptocarpus contains species with twisted and straight capsules as addressed here later.