Streptocarpus suffruticosus is a species from Madagascar, and is a member of subgenus Streptocarpus, section Lignostreptocarpus. It is closely allied to S. papangae, with which it shares a woody shrub-like habit and small cup-shaped flowers. The species pictured in feature photo above is likely S. suffruiticosus var. suffruiticosus, as are the other photos linked below.
Section Lignostreptocarpus is unusual in that it produces shrubby plants with woody stems (hence the “Ligno”) which had previously led it to be classified in Section Streptocarpella, along with other typically stemmed species. Recent genetic analyses have shown that it is actually more closely related to the unstemmed and sometimes unifoliate species in Section Streptocarpus.
Additional photos may be seen in a slideshow by clicking one of the links below:
