This is a large-growing species, with branches that can be up to a meter long. Not all specimens have the red-backed leaves (which facilitate attraction of hummingbirds), and some have orange or red calyces and flowers.
The plant featured above was exhibited at the Gesneriad Society’s convention in 2014.
C. sanguinea appears to produce alternate leaves, that is leaves that are on alternate sides of the stem. However, like almost all Gesneriads, C. sanguinea actually produces opposite leaves but one member of each pair atrophies and disappears, leaving the impression of alternate leaves. Although the flowers are small and inconspicuous, hummingbirds are attracted to the red markings on the underside of the leaves and subsequently find the flowers.
Additional photos may be seen in a slideshow by clicking one of the links below:
- Another show plant, exhibited at the 2014 convention show of the Gesneriad Society
- A show plant, without flowers, exhibited at the 2021 virtual show of the Gesneriad Society
- A close view of the inconspicuous flowers adjacent to the bright red leaf-backs
- The flowers on a plant exhibited at the 2009 convention show of the Gesneriad Society
- A clone of the species with orange calyces, rendering the flowers more conspicuous than usual