Achimenes

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Cladus: Lamiids
Ordo: Lamiales

Familia: Gesneriaceae
Subfamilia: Gesnerioideae
Tribus: Gesnerieae
Subtribus: Gloxiniinae
Genus: Achimenes
Species: A. admirabilis – A. antirrhina – A. brevifolia – A. candida – A. cettoana – A. dulcis – A. ehrenbergii – A. erecta – A. fimbriata – A. glabrata – A. grandiflora – A. heterophylla – A. hintoniana – A. longiflora – A. mexicana – A. misera – A. nayaritensis – A. obscura – A. occidentalis – A. patens – A. pedunculata – A. saxicola – A. skinneri – A. warszewicziana – A. woodii
Name

Achimines Pers., Syn. Pl. [Persoon] 2(1): 164 (1806) nom. cons.

Type species: Achimenes coccinia (Scop.) Pers. vide Achimenes erecta (Lam.) H.P.Fuchs, Acta Bot. Neerl. 12: 15. (1963)

Synonyms

Heterotypic
Cyrilla L'Hér., 1791, "1785".
Dicyrta Regel, 1849.
Eumolpe Decne., 1850.
Guthnickia Regel, 1849.
Locheria Regel, 1848.
Plectoploma Hanst., 1854.
Scheeria Seem., 1853.
Trevirana Willd., Enum. Pl. Horti Berol. 637. 1809.

Homonyms

Achimenes P.Browne, Civ. Nat. Hist. Jamaica 270, t. 30. (1756) nom. rej. Type not designated. (Gesneriaceae)
Achimenes Vahl, Symb. Bot. 2: 71. (1791) nom. illeg. hom. non P. Browne 1756, nec Persoon 1806 (nom. cons.) (Linderniaceae)
Type species: Achimenes sesamoides Vahl = Artanema sesamoides (Vahl) Benth., Scroph. Ind. 39. (1835) vide Artanema longifolium (L.) Merr.

References

Persoon, C.H. 1806–1807. Synopsis plantarum, seu enchiridium botanicum, complectens enumerationem systematicam specierum hucusque cognitarum. Pars secunda. 657 pp. Apud Bibliopolas Treuttel et Würtz, Parisiis Lutetiorum [Paris]; Apud J. G. Cottam, Tubingae [Tübingen]. BHL Biblioteca Digital Reference page. : 2: 164

Additional references

Clark J.L., Skog L.E., Boggan J.K. & Ginzbarg, S. 2020. Index to names of New World members of the Gesneriaceae (subfamilies Sanangoideae and Gesnerioideae). Rheedea: Official Journal of Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy 30(1): 190-256. DOI: 10.22244/rheedea.2020.30.01.14 PDF Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Achimenes in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 July 26. Reference page.
Hassler, M. 2020. Achimenes. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2020. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 July 26. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2020. Achimenes. Published online. Accessed: July 26 2020.
Tropicos.org 2020. Achimenes. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 July 26.

Vernacular names
беларуская: Ахіменес
Deutsch: Schiefteller
English: Cupid's Bower
suomi: Hilkat
hrvatski: Ahimen
lietuvių: Achimenė
русский: Ахименес
svenska: Femöringssläktet

Achimenes /æˈkɪmɪniːz/[1] is a genus of about 25 species of tropical and subtropical rhizomatous perennial herbs in the flowering plant family Gesneriaceae. They have a multitude of common names such as magic flowers, widow's tears, Cupid's bower, or hot water plant.
Contents

1 Etymology
2 Range and taxonomy
2.1 Species
3 Cultivation
4 References
5 External links

Etymology

According to some authorities, the plant's name may come from the Greek word cheimanos meaning "tender" or "sensitive to cold."[2]
Range and taxonomy

The genus is native to Mexico and Central America, with one species (A. erecta) occurring naturally in the West Indies. The largest number of species is found in Mexico. Several species and hybrids are widely cultivated and naturalized outside their native range. A complete list of the species, with their synonyms and geographic distributions, can be found in the Smithsonian Institution's World Checklist of Gesneriaceae.

Two species previously included in Achimenes are now classified in the segregation genus Eucodonia and several phylogenetic studies have supported this separation.

Achimenes cettoana in cultivation

Achimenes erecta in cultivation

Achimenes longiflora in cultivation

Achimenes misera in cultivation

Achimenes patens 'Major' in cultivation

Achimenes pedunculata in cultivation

Achimenes skinneri in cultivation

Species

Species include:[3]

Achimenes admirabilis Wiehler
Achimenes antirrhina (DC.) C.V.Morton
Achimenes brevifolia C.V.Morton
Achimenes candida Lindl.
Achimenes cettoana H.E.Moore
Achimenes dulcis C.V.Morton
Achimenes elota Denham
Achimenes erecta (Lam.) H.P.Fuchs
Achimenes fimbriata Rose ex C.V.Morton
Achimenes flava C.V.Morton
Achimenes glabrata (Zucc.) Fitzg.
Achimenes grandiflora (Schiede) DC.
Achimenes heterophylla (Mart.) DC.
Achimenes hintoniana Ram.-Roa & L.E.Skog
Achimenes longiflora DC.
Achimenes mexicana (Seem.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Fritsch
Achimenes misera Lindl.
Achimenes nayaritensis L.E.Skog
Achimenes obscura C.V.Morton
Achimenes occidentalis C.V.Morton
Achimenes patens Benth.
Achimenes pedunculata Benth.
Achimenes × sanguinea (hort. ex Hanst.) Regel ex Hanst.
Achimenes skinneri Gordon ex Lindl.
Achimenes tincticoma D.L. Denham
Achimenes woodii C.V.Morton

Cultivation

Achimenes species and hybrids are commonly grown as greenhouse plants, or outdoors as bedding plants in subtropical regions. The species have been extensively hybridized, with many of the hybrids involving the large-flowered species A. grandiflora and A. longiflora. Many of the species and their hybrids have large, brightly colored flowers and are cultivated as ornamental greenhouse and bedding plants. They are generally easy to grow as long as their basic requirements are met: a rich well-drained soil, bright indirect light, warmth, constant moisture, and high humidity. They have a winter dormancy and overwinter as scaly rhizomes, which should be kept dry until they sprout again in the spring. Some of the species and their hybrids are moderately hardy and can be grown outdoors year-round in zone 8, or even zone 7 with protection.

In the UK, the following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit:-

'Ambroise Verschaffelt'[4]
'Hilda Michelsen'[5]
× Achimenantha' Inferno'[6] (× Achimenantha is an intergeneric hybrid between Achimenes and Smithiantha)[7]

References

Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
Johnson, A.T. & Smith, H.A., Plant Names Simplifi Basic information with illustration of selected species. Ed. 2. http://www.genera-gesneriaceae.at
The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, retrieved October 1, 2015
"Achimenes 'Ambroise Verschaffelt'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
"Achimenes 'Hilda Michelsen'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
"× Achimenantha 'Inferno'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
"× Achimenantha". Tropicos. Missouri Botanical Garden.