When Streptocarpus decipiens was first discovered,the tiny plant looked like it was a member of the herbaceous Streptocarpus in subgenus Streptocarpella, but morphological analysis showed that it did indeed belong in subgenus Streptocarpus, later confirmed by DNA analysis (see Morphology 1 and Section Streptocarpus). This ‘deceptive’ morphology led to its name as Streptocarpus decipiens. The plants are tiny cave dwellers in the eastern highveld regions of Mpumalanga Province in South Africa, very frail and a challenge to cultivate.

• Plants growing in a partly shaded rock cleft
• A composite photo showing some differences in flower shape and color pattern
• A plant with a watch for scale, nicely illustrating its tiny size