Sarmienta
{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Sarmienta scandens (8625529802).jpg
| image_caption = Sarmienta scandens
| taxon = Sarmienta scandens
| parent_authority = Ruiz & Pav. (1794), nom. cons.
| authority = (J.D. Brandis) Pers. (1805)
| synonyms =
- Sarmienta repens {{small|Ruiz & Pav. (1798)}}
- Urceolaria chilensis {{small|Molina (1810)}}
- Urceolaria scandens {{small|J.D.Brandis (1786)}}
| synonyms_ref = [https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:382711-1 Sarmienta scandens (J.D.Brandis) Pers.] Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
}}
Sarmienta scandens, the Chilean pitcher flower, is a species of flowering plant, and the sole member of its genus within the family Gesneriaceae. It is an epiphyte native to the cool temperate rainforest of southern and central Chile.
The Latin specific epithet scandens means "climbing".{{cite book | last=Harrison |first=Lorraine | title=RHS Latin for Gardeners | year=2012 |publisher=Mitchell Beazley | location=United Kingdom | isbn=978-1845337315 }}
Description
Reaching just {{convert|10|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall by {{convert|50|cm|in|abbr=on}} broad, it is a creeping evergreen perennial with small oval leaves and pendent scarlet pitcher-shaped flowers in summer.{{cite book | editor-last = Brickell | editor-first = Christopher | title = The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants | year = 2008 | page = 957 | publisher = Dorling Kindersley | location = United Kingdom | isbn = 9781405332965}}
Cultivation
In temperate regions it is usually grown under glass, either epiphytically or using a specialist potting medium containing leaf mould or sphagnum moss. It may be placed outside during the summer months, in a warm sheltered spot where the temperature does not fall below {{convert|5 |C|F|abbr=on}}. It may however survive brief periods down to {{convert|0|C|F|abbr=on}}.
The plant is still widely advertised as Sarmienta repens, a name which is now regarded as illegitimate.{{cite web | url = http://www.gesneriads.info/antique-prints/sarmienta-repens/ | title = The Gesneriad Web: Sarmienta repens | publisher = The Gesneriad Society | access-date = 31 October 2018}}
Sarmienta scandens has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/16460/Sarmienta-scandens/Details | title = RHS Plantfinder - Sarmienta scandens | access-date = 31 October 2018}}{{cite web
| url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 95 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 31 October 2018}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q1943751|from2=Q6121932}}
Category:Monotypic Gesneriaceae genera
Category:Endemic flora of Chile
Category:Flora of central Chile
Category:Flora of southern Chile
Category:Flora of the Valdivian temperate forests
Category:Taxa described in 1794