Streptocarpus daviesii is an interesting species for more than one reason. It is unifoliate, but not monocarpic, which is the exception to many other unifoliate species. It survives into a next season by growing a second phyllomorph over the first leaf (up to 240 x 175 mm) which then serves as the single leaf for the next season, it is almost as though this species pages creates the leaves of a book for every new season. The feature photo above shows a new leaf starting growth beneath the flowers.
The plant grows primarily on logs and live tree trunks literally by the thousands on yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius, a conifer) and Lemonwood (Xylamos monospora) trees, but it also grows on moss covered rocks. Its flower is about 45 mm long, and the outer corolla lobes vary significantly in shape, but they are uniform in each locality, they may be completely rounded, or more oblong and pointed. The corolla lobes are pale to medium violet, and there are two raised keels in the throat which has a distinct yellow blotch.
Another very distinctive characteristic of this species is its calyx or flower base, which is not dissected but rather star shaped (campanulate). Even if a plant only has a flower stalk and the corolla has fallen off, the distinctive campanulate calyx allows one to identify it.
