Gesneriaceae

/ˌɡɛznərɪˈeɪsiːaɪ/ noun

Definition

The formal scientific name for the African violet family, a large family of flowering plants with over 3,000 species found mainly in tropical regions.

Etymology

Latin scientific nomenclature: Gesneria (the genus) plus -aceae (the suffix denoting a plant family), honoring Swiss naturalist Conrad Gesner.

Kelly Says

This family is a textbook example of adaptive radiation—Conrad Gesner's namesake family has diversified into thousands of species with wildly different shapes, sizes, and colors, all descended from common ancestors.

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