Codonanthe Carnosa

''Codonanthe'' is a genus of mainly epiphytic plants in the family Gesneriaceae, endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. The botanical name comes from the Ancient Greek for 'bellflower'. They have white or pale pink flowers and somewhat fleshy leaves. In 2013, the genus was reduced in size when more than half of the species were transferred to ''Codonanthopsis''. They can be grown as houseplants, particularly in hanging baskets. Artificial crosses with ''Nematanthus'' hybrids have produced the hybrid genus × ''Codonatanthus''.

Description

''Codonanthe'' species are subshrubs, generally growing as epiphytes, occasionally on rocks. Unlike ''Codonanthopsis'' species, they never grow in ant gardens. They have stems with few branches, which may be upright, creeping or hanging, and often produce roots along their length (adventitious roots). The leaves have a short or very short petiole (stalk), and are fleshy, with either smooth or hairy surfaces. The flowers, produced in the upper leaf axils, on pedicels up to long, are either solitary or in groups of a few together, rarely in the form of a cyme. The five petals are fused at the base with spreading, rounded tips, overall either funnel-shaped or expanded towards the base (ventricose). The flowers are white or pale pink, sometimes with yellow or maroon markings, particularly inside the throat. The four stamens remain within the flowers, and have paired anthers joined by a wide connective. The fruit is a yellowish to dark orange berry with seeds that are long.

Taxonomy

The taxon was first described by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius in 1829 as a section of the genus ''Hypocyrta''. (''Hypocyrta'' is now regarded as a synonym of ''Nematanthus''.) It was raised to the full genus ''Codonanthe'' by Johannes von Hanstein in 1854. The genus grew to contain about 18 species, but a series of molecular phylogenetic studies showed that it was not monophyletic, some species being more closely related to species of ''Codonanthopsis'' than to other ''Codonanthe'' species, and in 2013, ten species were transferred to that genus.

In one classification scheme for the family Gesneriaceae, ''Codonanthe'' is placed in the subfamily Gesnerioideae, tribe Gesnerieae, subtribe Columneinae. Within the subtribe, it forms a clade with ''Nematanthus'', ''Codonanthopsis'' and ''Lesia'':

Species

, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:
* ''Codonanthe carnosa'' (Gardner) Hanst.
* ''Codonanthe cordifolia'' Chautems
* ''Codonanthe devosiana'' Lem.
* ''Codonanthe formicarum'' Fritsch.
* '' Codonanthe gibbosa'' Rossini & Chautems
* '' Codonanthe gracilis'' (Mart.) Hanst.
* '' Codonanthe mattos-silvae'' Chautems
* '' Codonanthe venosa'' Chautems

;Former species
* ''Codonanthe elegans'' Wiehler = ''Codonanthopsis elegans'' (Wiehler) Chautems & Mat.Perret

File:6401-Codonanthe devosiana-Teplice skl-10.06.jpg, ''C. devosiana''
File:玉唇花 Codonanthe gracilis -香港花展 Hong Kong Flower Show- (9227115305).jpg, ''C. gracilis''

Distribution and habitat

''Codonanthe'' species are endemic to Brazil, where they are found in the Atlantic Forest.

Cultivation

''Codonanthe'' species are cultivated as ornamental plants. They can be grown in hanging baskets. Their relatively small size and free-flowering habit make them easier to grow than other epiphytic members of the family Gesneriaceae, although their flowers are smaller and less colourful than those of some other genera. A well-drained soilless mix is recommended, and humidity levels over 50% improve flowering and fruiting.

''Codonanthe gracilis'' was crossed with ''Nematanthus'' hybrids in the United States by W. R. Saylor. Two of the resulting cultivars are × ''Codonatanthus'' 'Fiesta' and × ''Codonatanthus'' 'Aurora'.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2352471

Gesnerioideae
Gesneriaceae genera
Epiphytes